Donald

= Beare US History Research Wiki Journal Prompts = = =


 * Journal Entry 1:** Topic and ideas -- What are you investigating? What are the questions that are guiding your investigation.

__ Wiki Numero Uno  __
 * < **[|donwilson1]**

A loose definition of my research topic is the effects of the Great Depression on race relations. After wrestling with this very broad topic and reading sources, I chose to focus on African-Americans and the Depression. Three of questions guiding my research are: 1. How did the status of African-Americans change during the economic rollercoaster of the ‘20s-‘40s? 2. How did the African-American culture develop during this period? 3. What effect did this culture have on the rest of society?

Based on the textbook readings, African-Americans were also quite prosperous during the economically booming 1920’s. Though most of their jobs were “below” those of white citizens, most black people did indeed have jobs. When the country entered the Great Depression however, minorities were definitely the first fired. “As the depression deepened, whites in many southern cities began to demand that all blacks be dismissed from their jobs. [1] ”

The twenties also saw the development of the Harlem Renaissance. This modern “renaissance” was a period of extreme cultural growth for African- Americans especially in Harlem. African-Americans began to feel less ashamed of not being white and felt proud of their blackness. Langston Hughes’ famous quote, “I am a Negro-and beautiful,” captures the essence of this transforming black culture.

I am still researching the greater effects the Harlem Renaissance had on society. I think this will be a very interesting area to write about.

__Wiki Numero Dos__ || I initially thought I wanted to study the effects of the Great Depression on African Americans but my research led me to the Harlem Renaissance. This assignment is actually my first real research paper and the research is going better than I expected. Our library has books about the Harlem Renaissance and the encyclopedia’s also have a lot of useful information. The main sources I’m using are: // Harlem Speaks // is incredibly useful because it addresses a wide range of influential people from the Harlem Renaissance. I do not believe that bias is much of an issue with this source. Each vignette is basically a biography of the influential person, their life story without the author’s judgment. Every biography also has a different author which means that no one person’s judgment, if it is present, does not impose on every person’s story. // The Harlem Renaissance: Revaluations // is also a good source but in a different way than //Harlem Speaks//. This book is divided into sections focusing on different themes and some people. The bias seems a bit stronger though; as I was reading some of the summaries it seemed as though the authors put their opinion into their descriptions. // The Harlem Renaissance // was the first book that I started reading and is a very worthy source. It describes different aspects of the movement and tries to explain its significance. Each chapter has a different author and none of them seem to be stating anything but facts. This book appears to be a very unbiased source.
 * l Wintz, C. D.,. (2007). //Harlem speaks : A living history of the harlem renaissance//. Naperville, Ill.: Sourcebooks.
 * l Singh, A., Shiver, W. S., Brodwin, S., & Hofstra Cultural Center. (1989). The harlem renaissance : Revaluations.
 * l Bloom, H. (2004). //The harlem renaissance//. Philadelphia: Chelsea House Publishers.

The three main books that I am using were easy to find by using the Bearcat catalog. The website that I cited above was provided by Mr. Beare and is proving to be useful by confirming information I have already found. I have not really experienced any “dead-ends” per se; my only problem so far was zoning in on the Harlem Renaissance, but that is the in the nature of research. To get to a definite, interesting period to research is difficult but I think the best strategy is to stay flexible during the initial digging for information. Having a broad idea to begin with definitely helps; you are less likely to get stuck.

I am almost ready to begin writing; I just need to continue absorbing more information about specific people and concepts to back up my ideas.

Wiki Numero Tres The Harlem Renaissance was a period of cultural evolution for African-Americans. People began to shed their shame of being black; Langston Hughes helped define this period when he said, “I am Negro – and beautiful.” [1] The period saw the rise of a few ambitious Black men and women. It was people like Langston Hughes and Claude McCay who rose to the occasion, changing what it meant to be an American Negro.

[1] Brinkley,A (2008). American history A survey(Twelfth Edition ed.) McGraw-Hill College Pg 674

[1] Brinkley, A. (2008). //American history A survey// (Twelfth Edition ed.) McGraw-Hill College. Pg 674


 * Journal Entry 2:** A comment on your process to date, a brief discussion of your sources, and a listing of sources you are currently working with (correct Turabian format). This should be a significant step forward from your initial bibliography.

just cut and paste Just experimenting. djb
 * Journal Entry 3:** What is your Thesis?