While at Notre Dame, former football student-athlete Corey Robinson ’17 earned multiple varsity letters and an Academic All-American first-team honor. In 2016, he became the second Black student body president in Notre Dame history and a Rhodes Scholar finalist. With accomplishments that include running a half marathon and writing a screenplay, Robinson continues to excel in his reporter and digital correspondent role with NBC Sports. As part of our Black History Month celebration, Robinson shares his thoughts on one of his favorite works from Black artist Aaron Douglas.
I saw this artwork for the first time a few weeks ago at the Museum of Modern Art. It struck me as both a painful reminder of our nation’s past and as a picture of a hopeful future. Resilience, strength, and creativity emanate from this brave man as he forges a new future in the midst of uncertainty. He hasn’t stopped — neither should we.
Study for the book God’s Trombones by James Weldon Johnson 1926 More info on the piece available at MOMA.org
Did you know that the Harlem Renaissance, lasting from the 1910s through the mid-1930s, was considered the golden age in African American culture? Affected by the many racist legislations evoked after the emancipation of slaves in the south, many African Americans began to migrate north, many settling in Harlem. The rapid development of Harlem provided a space for African Americans of all backgrounds to appreciate the variety of Black life and culture, giving birth to the Harlem Renaissance. Encompassing a wide variety of cultural elements and styles, the movement stood for overt racial pride that aimed to uplift the Black race. The Harlem renaissance worked to change the image of modern black life from rural, undereducated peasants to one of urban sophistication. What it meant to be Black became defined by Black people such as Aaron Douglas, and set the stage for the post World War II Civil Rights Movement.
Want to know more? Explore the links below.
Harlem Renaissance Information
- Harlem Renaissance History
- Uncovering America
- Black Heritage and American Culture
- A New African Identity: The Harlem Renaissance
Aaron Douglas Information
- Media of Aaron Douglas
- Art, Literature, and the Harlem Renaissance: The Messages of “God’s Trombones”
- Aaron Douglas Artwork
Brave Voices – Corey Robinson