Thursday, December 26, 2013

Harlem Renaissance Challenge 2014

Yet another reading challenge--so totally addicted.  Though this blogger has me beat as far as the number of challenges signed up for :-) And I still don't know if I'm done yet ;-) This one looked like good one.  I like to learn abut other cultures and this is one such challenge.  It also goes quite well with the Diversity on the Shelf Challenge.   Since this is a new one to me, I'm going with the first level, though as always, I may go over.  To sign up, go to Dusky Literati.

2014 Harlem Renaissance Reading Challenge



The Harlem Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned the 1920s. At the time, it was known as the “New Negro Movement”, named after the 1925 anthology by Alain Locke. The Movement also included the new African-American cultural expressions across the urban areas in the Northeast and Midwest United States affected by the Great Migration (African American), of which Harlem was the largest. Though it was centered in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City, in addition, many francophone black writers from African and Caribbean colonies who lived in Paris were also influenced by the Harlem Renaissance. The Harlem Renaissance is generally considered to have spanned from about 1919 until the early or mid-1930s. (Source: Wikipedia)
Last year I read quite a few books by authors of the Harlem Renaissance and in 2014, I want to delve deeper.
Details of the Challenge:
  1. This reading challenge runs from 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2014 (books read prior to January 1, 2014 do not count towards the challenge). You can join anytime before November 1, 2014
  2. Read fiction and non-fiction books by and about authors and other personages associated with the Harlem Renaissance. Feel free to expand to black writers from Africa and the Caribbean during this timeframe. The goal is to really immerse yourself in this era. For a list of books related to the Harlem Renaissance, check out the Harlem Renaissance listopia at Goodreads OR books from my personal library tagged ‘Harlem Renaissance’ on LibraryThing.
  3. Books can be any format (print, ebook, audio)
  4. Re-reads and crossovers from other reading challenges are allowed
  5. You can choose your books as you go or create a list in advance
  6. I will put up a post for reviews at the beginning of January
Levels:
1-5 books — 
New Negro (phrase coined by Alain Locke)
6-10 books — Garveyite (follower of Marcus Garvey)
11-15 books — 
Niggerati (This term is not meant to offend but was associated with the Harlem Renaissance. Phrase used by Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, and Wallace Thurman)
16+ books — 
Talented Tenth (phrase coined by W.E.B. Du Bois)
Once you pick a level you can go higher and read more books but you cannot go down a level.

Here is what I'm reading for this one:

  1. Their Eyes Were Watching God--Zora Neale Hurston
  2. In Search of Color Everywhere: A Collection of African-American Poetry
  3. Harlem Redux--Persia Walker
  4. Mystery of the Dark Tower--Evelyn Coleman

2 comments:

  1. Jamie, thanks for joining the challenge. I look forward to seeing what books you plan to read. Have a Happy New Year!

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  2. Jamie, I have not read Mystery of the Dark Tower. I will have to check it out this year. Thanks so much for participating in my challenge

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