U.S. History for Monday, November 29

Welcome back! 
In period 2 U.S. History, students completed the 1920s posters then had some notes on prohibition.  Be sure to copy the notes from a classmate if you were absent.

In period 3 U.S. History, we had a brief review of prohibition then focused on the Harlem Renaissance.  We watched some jazz performances from that time and read some pieces of literature from Claude McKay, Jean Toomer, and Langston Hughes.  Copy the notes from a classmate if you were absent.  Here are the poems we looked at in class:

If We Must Die
by Claude McKay
If we must die--let it not be like hogs Hunted and penned in an inglorious spot, While round us bark the mad and hungry dogs, Making their mock at our accursed lot. If we must die--oh, let us nobly die, So that our precious blood may not be shed In vain; then even the monsters we defy Shall be constrained to honor us though dead! Oh, Kinsmen! We must meet the common foe; Though far outnumbered, let us show us brave, And for their thousand blows deal one deathblow! What though before us lies the open grave? Like men we'll face the murderous, cowardly pack, Pressed to the wall, dying, but fighting back!

Reapers
by Jean Toomer
Black reapers with the sound of steel on stones Are sharpening scythes. I see them place the hones In their hip-pockets as a thing that's done, And start their silent swinging, one by one. Black horses drive a mower through the weeds, And there, a field rat, startled, squealing bleeds. His belly close to ground. I see the blade. Blood-stained, continue cutting weeds and shade.   I, Too, Sing America   by Langston Hughes I, too, sing America. I am the darker brother. They send me to eat in the kitchen When company comes, But I laugh, And eat well, And grow strong. Tomorrow, I'll be at the table When company comes. Nobody'll dare Say to me, "Eat in the kitchen," Then. Besides, They'll see how beautiful I am And be ashamed-- I, too, am America.

U.S. History: Harlem Renaissance Resources

New York City is one of the favorite places I've visited. It's bustling and dynamic and our 1920s unit, which includes the Harlem Renaissance, highlights this ever-changing city landscape. Here are some of the resources that I'm using to teach through the unit. I searched the internet high and low to find great resources to share with you, but you can find them here with a simple click.

• Good, short overview of Manhattan and its unique neighborhoods with links to other boroughs
• Really cool interactive walking tour of historical Harlem Click on the map (may have an extra credit assignment related to this site soon--stay tuned).
• Claude McKay's poem If We Must Die Find poetry from other Harlem Renaissance figures (and other American poets) on that site by simply searching their name or the poem's name.

Corporate Harlem Renaissance?

In U.S. History we had studied the Harlem Renaissance and talked about that area of New York City as a cultural center for African Americans.  I came across this picture and caption today which saddened me a bit.  Though the picture is from a few months ago, I'm sure the trend has continued.  (from Yahoo News)

 Patrons sit inside a Starbucks in the New York neighborhood of Harlem on Monday Dec. 10, 2007. Increasingly, Harlem's commercial and cultural backbone, 125th Street, has seen many of its black-owned businesses forced out by high rents and replaced by branches of national chain brands like Starbucks. Harlem is the historic capital of black American culture, but like many New York neighborhoods, it is rapidly changing and old-timers worry that redevelopment will wipe out mom-and-pop stores and affordable housing, along with the area's distinct character.