Guess who
Let's play some trivia.....
Musicians first.
WHO IS THIS?
Why Duke Ellington of course. Maybe you've heard of him before but if you haven't I'll share some of what I've learned so far. Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was a composer, jazz pianist and the leader of an infamous jazz orchestra (1923-1974). Ellington was born in Washington D.C. ( guess where we're going) and was well known for his contribution to the arts. His most famous pieces were " Concerto for Cootie", "Cotton tail", and "Ko-Ko" and "It don't mean a thing". Ellington was known for seeking out musicians with odd/interesting styles. He often went in search of musicians to add to his band. Below is a video of "It don't mean a thing" with singer Ella Fitzgerald.
How about this one.....
Non- Musician
That's right! (Or wrong we can't always be right, it's okay). The notorious Langston Hughes. James Mercer Langston Hughes was an activist, poet, novelist and play write. He is best known however, for his leadership during the Harlem Renaissance. He is said to have found his "African roots" while on his many trips to Cuba, this discovery led to Hughes helping millions of people through his work. Hughes is known today for his poetry during this era. Today, Ellington and Hughes' pieces have been featured together in order to educate/introduce the public to the media that was being produced during the Harlem Renaissance.
Below is an excerpt from Hughes piece titled "Let America be America Again"
References:
“Let America Be America Again by Langston Hughes - Poems | Academy of American Poets.” Poets.org, Academy of American Poets, poets.org/poem/let-america-be-america-again.
“Harlem to Havana: Langston Hughes Helped a Nation Connect to Its African Roots.” NBCNews.com, NBCUniversal News Group, 2 Sept. 2017, www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/harlem-havana-langston-hughes-helped-nation-connect-its-african-roots-n781556.
Hey! It was so creative of you to make this post be like a game. It makes it way more entertaining and fun to read. I thought it was super interesting stuff you brought up about Langston Hughes. I think it shows how much experiences can play such an important role in why people do what they do. Don't you think? Because of his trips and times to Cuba, he then went on to help millions of people. If he hadn't, he would not have found his "African Roots" and may have not helped as many people as he did.
ReplyDeleteHey Noelia, I found it interesting how the simplistic and catchy lyrics in "It Don't Mean a Thing" have a powerful and deeper meaning to it. I wanted to understand the song better so I did some research and discovered that main theme shown in this song is "one of determination to fight against oppression." Ellington's meaning behind his this song gave many African Americans strength to care less about the insults they got from society. I appreciate the connection you drew between the two artists by mentioning that Ellington and Hughes had collaborated on artwork together. This, in my opinion, demonstrates how effective the Harlem Renaissance era was in educating society about Black Lives through powerful messages in all forms of artwork.
ReplyDeleteNoelia, I really enjoyed reading your article! I loved the recording with Ella Fitzgerald! I usually listen to her songs (especially "Dream a Little Dream of Me") in the morning to start my day off right. I knew she had collaborated with Louis Armstrong in the past, but I wasn't familiar with her connection to the Harlem Renaissance through Duke Ellington. I definitely have to delve into that now. As for Langston Hughes, I thought you selected a beautiful poem of his to include in your post. His poetry continues to remain relevant and relatable for countless Americans today--but I think it contains just as much hope now as it did then. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI loved the poem you chose to include by Langston Hughes. Initially, Hughes gives a false sense of patriotism and the wonders of America, but he gradually reveals a more nuanced look into how American freedoms apply (or don't apply) to certain groups. After the end of slavery, the African American community quickly discovered they were not truly free. Instead, they entered a new time of prejudice. Therefore, it was their turn to be pioneers, creating the Harlem Renaissance and the many revolutionary methods that came along with it. Hughes' poems do this movement justice by honoring his contemporaries and pushing the idea of Civil Rights forward.
ReplyDeleteI liked how you included Langston Hughes in your blog post. It was interesting to learn how he actually brought some latin influences into the Harlem Renaissance because I feel as though there is little attention brought to how black and latin culture has mixed in the United States. I wonder if being exposed to the history of slavery in Cuba helped him rediscover his African roots or if just experiencing a culture other than that of America was what sparked an interest for him.
ReplyDeleteHey Noelia! I loved how you made this a trivia, it definitely got me intrigued. I also did Hughes in my blog post as well. His poetry is really art. It goes into the hardships that they faced. He didn't sugar coat anything at all, which I appreciated. Do you think with all the time he spent in Cuba influenced his writing in a negative way? Do you think of he didn't go to Cuba he would be this influential? I think Hughes work helped many African Americans, and I still think they do!
ReplyDeleteI loved hearing Ella Fitzgerald's rendition of "It Don't Mean a Thing." Fitzgerald's energy in the song is contagious and made me want to get up and start dancing myself! This recording also helped me to appreciate the range Fitzgerald has. From slow romantic jazz tunes to fast-paced melodies like the one shown, is there anything she can't do?
ReplyDelete