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Drop Me Off In Harlem

Meet the actors, musicians, artists, dancers, writers, activists, and supporters of the early 20th century Harlem Renaissance, and discover the creative, cultural, and political “intersections” they made with each other.

Recommended for Grades 6-12

In this resource, you will:

  • Meet the artists, writers, dancers, musicians, activists, philosophers, and patrons of the Harlem Renaissance between the years of 1917 and 1935.
  • Discover the places artists congregated and how this vibrant community thrived through intersection and collaboration.
  • Explore how this period in American history was documented through art, literature, journalism, theater, and film.

What if you were dropped off in Harlem between 1917 and 1935?

A photo of a street view of the Cotton Club, featuring its main building sign and nearby billboards promoting performers at the venue. Two old-fashioned vehicles—one white and one black—are parked on the street. The black and white photo has been modified so the top half of the image has colorful tints in pink, green, yellow, and orange tinting the billboards.

During the Harlem Renaissance, artists, writers, dancers, musicians, activists, philosophers, and patrons went to the same parties, danced at the same clubs, and lived and worked on the same streets. As a result, many of the works produced during this period were results of collaborations between artists, and of the influence, encouragement, and inspiration of individuals living and working in Harlem.

Listen: Adelaide Hall - “Drop Me Off in Harlem”

Drop Me Off in Harlem is a resource for teachers and students that explores the themes and works that emerged when creative and intellectual voices intersected during the Harlem Renaissance. The resource contains four main sections:

  1. Faces of the Renaissance: a collection of pages that discuss influential individuals and works and their intersections with other individuals and works
  2. A Place Called Harlem: an interactive map of prominent cultural, social, and political establishments in Harlem
  3. Theme & Variations: a series of features that provide an in-depth look at seminal works, and important themes and threads that emerged during this period
  4. Classroom Activities & Lessons: enriching learning opportunities for students grades 3-12

Each section contains a wealth of primary sources to help you experience the sights and sounds of the Harlem Renaissance. 

kAn image of the white Kennedy Center logo on a black background.

  • Image Credits

  • Excerpt & Reprint Credits

  • Sources & Citations

  • Acknowledgements

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Generous support for educational programs at the Kennedy Center is provided by the U.S. Department of Education. The content of these programs may have been developed under a grant from the U.S. Department of Education but does not necessarily represent the policy of the U.S. Department of Education. You should not assume endorsement by the federal government.

Gifts and grants to educational programs at the Kennedy Center are provided by A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation; Annenberg Foundation; the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation; Bank of America; Bender Foundation, Inc.; Carter and Melissa Cafritz Trust; Carnegie Corporation of New York; DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities; Estée Lauder; Exelon; Flocabulary; Harman Family Foundation; The Hearst Foundations; the Herb Alpert Foundation; the Howard and Geraldine Polinger Family Foundation; William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust; the Kimsey Endowment; The King-White Family Foundation and Dr. J. Douglas White; Laird Norton Family Foundation; Little Kids Rock; Lois and Richard England Family Foundation; Dr. Gary Mather and Ms. Christina Co Mather; Dr. Gerald and Paula McNichols Foundation; The Morningstar Foundation;

The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation; Music Theatre International; Myra and Leura Younker Endowment Fund; the National Endowment for the Arts; Newman’s Own Foundation; Nordstrom; Park Foundation, Inc.; Paul M. Angell Family Foundation; The Irene Pollin Audience Development and Community Engagement Initiatives; Prince Charitable Trusts; Soundtrap; The Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust; Rosemary Kennedy Education Fund; The Embassy of the United Arab Emirates; UnitedHealth Group; The Victory Foundation; The Volgenau Foundation; Volkswagen Group of America; Dennis & Phyllis Washington; and Wells Fargo. Additional support is provided by the National Committee for the Performing Arts.

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