Dreams Deferred: The Poetry and Prose of the Harlem Renaissance

Teaching Artist: Bobby Norfolk

All aboard! Jump on the “A” train to celebrate the African-American art, music, and poetry exploding out of Harlem in the early 20th century. During this artistic journey, we will make stops for poetry, prose, vignettes and toe-tapping music! Bobby uses musical classics such as Nat King Cole’s “Straighten Up and Fly Right”, and W. C. Handy’s “St. Louis Blues” to bring Langston Hughes’s humorous and often outrageous “Simple” tales to life. Hughes was nicknamed “The Poet Laureate of Harlem.” He was among the first to give voice to the African-American experience, cementing his most famous fictional character Jesse B. Simple as one of literature’s greatest treasures. Also available for virtual performances.

Audience: Grades 6-12
Format: Performance
Curriculum Connections: Social Studies/Culture, English/Language Arts
Teaching Artist: Bobby Norfolk

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