American artists

he Harlem renaissance was a conglomeration of the best and brightest, poets, singers, artist, philosophers and all around thinkers of the African American community. They were escaping the oppression of the American South for a place where they could gather and let their creativity free. Some of the major names that were a part of the Renaissance included Langston Hughes (poet), Claude McKay (writer/poet), Zora Neale Hurston (novelist) and many more. The Harlem Renaissance wasn't just a…

Katherine Dunham was a legendary dancer who made the cultures of African Diaspora known through dancing and choreography. But she is much more than that, she was an artist, author, anthropologist, manager, movie star, teacher, and mother. She revolutionized American dance by using her experience in black dance and rituals and transforming them into a choreography that speaks to the audience. Katherine Dunham was born June 22, 1909 and she died May 21, 2006. But she accomplished so much in her…

Some of the artists that came out during this time that challenged the status quo were Little Richard, and Bob Dylan being two of the biggest. Little Richard songs tutti frutti. Some of the lyrics in this song are “I got a girl, named…

ghetto, and the perpetuation of poverty and its accompanying vicious cycle value system in the urban American culture. “Changes” has remained one of Tupac’s most notable and popular songs in hip hop history. The late Tupac was an African American rapper who was shot dead in 1996 at a ripe age of 25 years. The lyrics of the song are directly related to his everyday struggles as an African American. The song focuses on racial profiling, poverty and how racism impacts on the daily lives…

James Mercer Langston Hughes was a famous poet in America who was also known to be a, novelist, social activist, columnist from Joplin, Missouri and playwright artist. James was one of the earliest innovators of Jazz poetry which during his time was known as then-new literary form. Hughes is particularly known for his colorful, insightful portrayals of black life in America from the 1920’s through to the 1960’s. He wrote short stories, plays, novels and as well as poetry. James graduated from…

In the Documentary, Ethos was vital part in developing the story. They had first hand accounts from Hip-Hop artist and well-known producers and actors who had a major influence on black entertainment. Melvin Van Peebles was a multi-talented and productive producer who paved the way for aspiring African American’s who were looking to dab in the entertainment industry. He was known as "the godfather of modern black cinema" due to his 1970 film, Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song, which at the time…

Insistence, and the Triumph of African American Cultural Aesthetics in Langston Hughes 's ‘Mulatto,’” he writes about the struggles of a mixed race person. He claims that “the figure of the light-skinned, biracial person who is never fully accepted, or able to accept himself, as either black or white—a figure who in the nineteenth century was termed ‘the tragic mulatto’” (Lamb 134). Essentially what Lamb is saying is what is reflected throughout all of the African American literature, both in…

a distinct style and theme, which, to me, seems to be mostly centered on commercialism. The stereotype that exists for hip-hop exists because the mainstream hip-hop does fit into the mold that some of us talked about during the first discussion. Artists promote lifestyles that are unattainable for the majority, probably all, of their listeners. This focus on commercialism, always having the newest, best, and brightest editions of clothing, electronics, or cars, speaks to the general focus of our…

I believe that there should be a form of regulation for the salaries of big time artists, athletes, coaches, and other celebrities. I believe that people should be paid according to the importance and demand of the job they are required to do. I believe the amount of money they make every year is ridiculous considering they are only entertainers. Entertainment is important, but it’s not a necessity. Our soldiers, police officers, and teachers are being paid significantly less yet their jobs…

African American race being hindered in today 's society. The concept of the New Black is against the goals of African Americans, it expresses lack of citizenship, and it gives the impression that race still matters in the twenty first century. Furthermore, The article "A Curious Case of the New Black; A Conversation" describes the dialogue between several writers about the responses to the concept of the new black made by Pharell Williams and Raven Symone. Pharell Williams, a famous artist,…