Youth Movement

I stumbled upon some old photographs via the NYPL Digital Archives.  If you have little to no knowledge of the Harlem Renaissance other than the fact that it was an historical period of time in which Harlem was in vogue...then these photos will prove that it was more than just a period of time in which a section of New York City was in vogue.

Known as "The New Negro Movement", the Harlem Renaissance was an artistic and cultural movement spanning the 1920s and 1930s.  Many famous and influential African-Americans came out of said movement; African-Americans such as Langston Hughes, Alain Locke, Zora Neale Hurston, Paul Robeson and many more.  I'd like to revisited the most notable players of "The New Negro Movement" in a separate post and focus on the influence they had on the youth of Harlem in this post.  The below photos were taken in 1939 at the Harlem Community Arts Center.  I love a young artistic mind!  I wonder if any of the children in the pictures ever went on to become players in the art world.  It's amazing how a photograph can tell a story but remain anonymous enough to let your imagination create wonder and fantasy.

The children are impeccably dressed for art class, wouldn't you say? And because this is a vintage fashion blog, it wouldn't be right if I didn't address the wardrobe...in fact I wouldn't be me if I didn't address the wardrobe! I love the kid in the last photo who is wearing short pants, amazing diamond print socks, and "spit shine" shoes!  He's a dapper little fella!