Harlem Stomp!: A Cultural History of the Harlem Renaissance by Laban Carrick Hill, Christopher Myers (Illustrator), Nickki Giovanni (Foreword by)

From the Publisher

Lavishly illustrated with sepia-tone photographs, reproductions of historical documents, and full-color paintings, "Harlem Stomp!" is both a historical exploration and a lively celebration of the Harlem Renaissance.

Publishers Weekly

This energetic, elegantly designed volume documents the artistic, literary and musical surge of black culture in Harlem from 1900 to 1924, presenting the events and personalities that led to both its ascension and decline. Hill first introduces the pivotal opposing points of view of the time, that of Booker T. Washington-born into slavery, who "strongly supported the principle of nonconfrontation"-and W.E.B. Du Bois, born free, whose ideas were considered "radical" and who believed that "the Negro race must be made leaders of thought and missionaries of culture among their people." The author then weaves in other voices, solo and in groups, and brief bios of lesser-known heroes (such as Sgt. Henry Johnson, an African-American and the first American soldier-black or white-in WWI to receive the Croix de Guerre; and pioneering editor and educator Charles Spurgeon Johnson). Hill sets the backdrop for the Great Migration of blacks from South to North (illustrated with the first of Jacob Lawrence's Migration Series paintings) and explores the effects of a glut of Harlem housing which led to the settlement of African-Americans there. Sidebars highlight such issues as the "Negro Scare" racket, a real estate strategy that exploited whites' fears of black encroachment into white residential areas. A generous helping of primary source material brings the era to life in the voices of the dynamic people who made it flourish, including the poems of Langston Hughes, sheet music for "Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing," advertisements and excerpts from news stories. The inviting design makes use of blocks of jazzy colors, mod type and a smattering of period illustrations (by the likes of Aaron Douglas and others). Hill also shines light on everyday rituals, such as the practice of strolling down the Harlem boulevards, the importance of churches and the flourishing of jazz clubs (such as the famous Cotton Club). The book closes with the stock market crash's devastating effects on the Harlem Renaissance; the resulting Great Depression caused five times more unemployment in Harlem than in other parts of the city and led to an exodus of many of its leaders. This compelling history will leave readers familiar or unfamiliar with this high-flying period eager to discover more. Ages 12-up. (Jan.) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Leila Toledo - Children's Literature

The Harlem Renaissance was one of the most significant periods for African Americans during the early 20th Century. It was a time of music, literature, art and civil rights advocacy. African Americans such as Zora Neale Hurston. Langston Hughes, James Baldwin and W. E. Du Bois blossomed in this environment. The author takes us through this fascinating era with detailed accounts of Harlem residents. Significantly, the Harlem Renaissance allowed creative young African Americans a venue where they felt free to express their talent and opinions no matter how different or controversial they were. This book is beautifully illustrated with photographs, paintings, book covers, newspaper articles and posters. Harlem Stomp! is an excellent cultural history of the Harlem Renaissance for young adults to learn of the great contribution that African Americans made to America. It truly emphasizes that "Black is beautiful." 2004, Megan Tingley Books/Little Brown, Ages 16 up.

Valerie Ott - VOYA

The vibrancy, energy, and color of the Harlem Renaissance come to life in this gem of a book packed with poetry, prose, song lyrics, art, and photography created by some of the period's most influential figures. In the first few chapters, Hill traces Harlem's roots as a hotbed of cultural activity back to the early twentieth century when thousands of African Americans, tired of the segregation and violence in the South, migrated north. When rent prices in the newly built and refined buildings of Harlem dropped, a new generation of African Americans saw an opportunity to create and live in a neighborhood that would reflect their own heritage and earn them respect. After World War I, in which many blacks honorably served their country, a new optimism and pride began to emerge in Harlem. Hill portrays the growing Harlem community as "a match ready to be ignited . . . crowded with explosive talent and creativity." Readers learn that the myriad artistic and political contributions of such figures as W. E. B. Du Bois, Louis Armstrong, Zora Neale Hurston, and Langston Hughes were crucial to sustaining that energy and adding a new dimension to American culture. This rollicking, riveting overview of arguably the most significant cultural movement in the nation's history will keep readers' attention and serve as a wonderful alternative or supplement to textbook material. Hill successfully portrays in her superbly illustrated and well-crafted book the enduring legacy of the Harlem Renaissance in rich but not overwhelming detail. Informative and highly entertaining, it deserves to be shelved in any library. VOYA CODES: 5Q 2P M J S (Hard to imagine it being any better written; For the YA with aspecial interest in the subject; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12). 2003, Little Brown, 160p.; Index. Illus. Photos. Biblio., Ages 11 to 18.

School Library Journal

Gr 7 Up-Hill explains the violence, frustration, and dreams of economic opportunity that led to the African-American migration to the North at the beginning of the 20th century. He describes the sense of pride, responsibility, and rights engendered by participation in World War I and the white resentment that resulted in such violence that James Weldon Johnson "dubbed the summer of 1919 the `Red Summer'" in response to the bloodshed. The author discusses why blacks settled in Harlem and how it became the "Mecca of the New Negro," attracting the likes of Langston Hughes, Jean Toomer, and Claude McKay. Also highlighted are publications such as the National Urban League's Opportunity: A Journal of Negro Life, which not only supplied forums for these writers but also attempted to generate income for them and provide a sense of racial identity. Music, theater, and the visual arts are also covered. The book contains aspects of everyday culture, too, such as the role of churches, funeral processions, and rent parties. Numerous quotes from speeches, poems, articles, and other works are included. The volume is a visual feast, packed with contemporary photographs, reproductions, magazine covers, and posters, and enhanced by an interesting graphic design. Together, the words and images bring this extraordinary period to life. Pair it with James Haskins's The Harlem Renaissance (Millbrook, 1996), which remains the more in-depth textual overview.-Joanne K. Cecere, Monroe-Woodbury High School, Central Valley, NY Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews

As Nikki Giovanni says in her foreword, the Harlem Renaissance was "an American people redefining this great American nation." The rich cultural life of Harlem in the 1920s included the poetry of Langston Hughes, the photography of James VanDerZee, the painting of Aaron Douglas and William H. Johnson, the vocal performances of Paul Robeson. Harlem was the Jazz Age-Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, the Savoy Ballroom. This volume, clearly a labor of love, is a visual treat, from the cover art by Christopher Myers to the pages chock full of period photographs and artwork of the age. The narrative voice, though, is inconsistent, sometimes affecting the ebullient language of the "hoppin'" nightclubs and the "white hepcat from downtown," at other times sounding dry as an old textbook. The big bibliography doesn't reflect the wealth of resources available for young readers, but the volume offers much for browsers and young researchers. (index, credits) (Nonfiction. 12+)

Product Details

• Table of Contents

Table of Contents