Black Arts Movement
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[edit] Overview
The Black Arts Movement is commonly known as the artistic branch of the Black Power movement. This movement was founded in Harlem by writer and activist Amiri Baraka(b. Everett LeRoi Jones), who is arguably its most prominent, important figure.[1]Time Magazine describes the Black Arts Movement as the "single most controversial moment in the history of African-American literature--possibly in American literature as a whole."[2]The Black Arts Repertory Theatre is the key institution of the Black Arts Movement.
From the beginning of the 1960’s till the beginning of the 1970’s was known as the Black Arts Movement. This movement is also known as “The Artistic Sister of the Black Power Movement” which was the artistic branch of the Black Arts Movement. It stands as the most important time of the African-American literature as a whole because it produced the great power and integrity of literature. This movement inspired blacks to establish ownership of publishing houses, magazines, journals, art institutions and African-American studies within universities. This movement was triggered by the assassination of Malcolm X and was discovered and written by writer and activist Amiri Baraka. Other well-known writers that were involved with this movement included Nikki Giovannii, Sonia Sanchez, Maya Angelou, and Rosa Grey.
This period in time greatly changed the literature world by portraying different ethnic voices and minorities in the United States. Before this movement was discovered, writers lacked diversity and the ability to express ideas from a minority’s point of view.
Theatre groups, poetry performances, music and dance were centered around this movement and therefore African-Americans were becoming recognized In the area of literature and arts. African-Americans were also able to educate others through different types of expressions and media about cultural differences. The most common form of teaching was through poetry reading. The performances used by the African-Americans were used for political advertisement, organization, and community issues. The Black Arts Movement was spread by the use of newspaper advertisements. The first major arts movement publication was in 1964.
[edit] Effects on Society
The Black Arts Movement is often analogous to "the Black Power Movement." The period existed for about a decade, during the mid 1960s up until the mid 1970s. This was a period of controversy and great change in the world of literature. One major reason is that it portrayed differing ethnic voices and minorities in the United States. English literature prior to the Black Arts Movement had been a somewhat exclusive field. Writers lacked diversity and an ability to express ideas from a minority viewpoint.
Not only were African Americans becoming more recognized in the field of literature, but in all areas of the arts. Theater groups, poetry performances, music and dance were central to the movement. Through different forms of media, African Americans were able to educate others through the expression of cultural differences and viewpoints. In particular, Black poetry readings allowed African Americans to use vernacular dialogues. This was shown in the Harlem Writers Guild which included Black writers such as Maya Angelou and Rosa Guy. These performances were used to express political slogans and as a tool for organization. Theater performances also were used to convey community issues and organizations. The theaters, as well as cultural centers, were based throughout America and were used for community meetings, study groups and film screenings. Newspapers were a major tool in spreading the Black Arts Movement. In 1964, Black Dialogue was published making it the first major Arts movement publication.
The Black Arts Movement, although short, is essential to the history of the United States. It spurred political activism and use of speech throughout every African American community. It allowed African Americans the chance to express their voices in the mass media as well as become involved in communities.
[edit] Notes
References Gladney, Marvin. “The Black Arts Movement and Hip-Hop.” Find Articles (2007). 13, Mar. 2007 <http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2 838/is_n2_v29/ai_17534803>. Henry, Joan. “Blacks Art Movement.” (1998). 12, Mar. 2007 <http://www.umich.edu/~eng499/>. Jansen, Mia. “Blacks Arts Movement.” Answers (2005). 12, Mar. 2007 <http://www.answers.com/topic/black-arts-movement>.
- ^ See http://www.umich.edu/~eng499/orgs/barts.html
- ^ See http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/5647
[edit] Key Writers and Thinkers of this Movement
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- (arranged alphabetically)
- Maya Angelou
- Amiri Baraka (aka Evertt LeRoi Jones)
- Jean Carey Bond
- Walter Bowe
- Gwendolyn Brooks
- Ed Bullins
- Steve Cannon
- Harold Cruse
- Tom Dent
- Ray Durem
- Nikki Giovanni
- Rosa Guy
- Lorraine Hansberry
- Al Haynes
- David Henderson
- Calvin Hicks
- Marvin X (known as Marvin Jackson)
- Ron Karenga
- Adrienne Kennedy
- Keorapetse
- John O. Killens
- Robert MacBeth
- Haki Madhubuti
- "Willie" Kgositsile Nannie
- Larry Neal
- Yusef Rahman
- Sonia Sanchez
- Barbara Ann Teer
- Lorenzo Thomas
- Askia Touré
- Sarah Wright
[edit] Other Info
A 2005 international exhibition, 'Back to Black - Art, Cinema and the Racial Imaginary', details which are available with the Archives of Whitechapel Art Gallery
A 2006 major conference 'Should Black Art Still Be Beautiful'? Organised by OOM Gallery and Midwest the conference created a forum by examinining the development of contemporary Black cultural practice and its future in Britain. April 1st 2006, New Art Gallery Walsall, UK. Conference was in honour of the late Donald Rodney. Photo of Donald Rodney located at OOM Gallery Archive http://www.oomgallery.net
Recently redeveloped African and Asian Visual Arts Archive ( [1]) currently located at University of East London (UEL). This archive can be searched through the UEL library site.
The Arts Council of England's (ACE) decibel initiative produced a summary, Reinventing Britain, in 2003 in association with the Guardian newspaper.
Archive available at Schomburg Centre, NYPL.
[edit] External links
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