Back in the height of the Harlem Renaissance, there was a social phenomenon called “the rent party.” These parties would be held in people’s apartments and salons in Harlem, and would be a sort of free-for-all evening of fun. They weren’t called rent parties just for fun, they were actually designed to raise money to pay rent, because the people of the Harlem area, being predominantly African American, paid higher rents and got paid less on average than Whites. So upon arrival, guests would make a donation to the host and join in on a wild party full of dancing and good food. The parties were often flooded with artists and musicians, and live music kept the evening going all night.

                This is how I spent my Wednesday evening last week. When I arrived, I walked into a room decked out like the 1920’s. There were girls in flapper dresses and guys in fedoras walking around, sipping lemonade and eating delicious food reminiscent of the era. Before I arrived, I thought that “Rent Party” was just a name, because I was expecting a concert, but it was a real party. I wish I had known about the costume element of the evening or I would have dressed up myself. One of the walls was lit up but a spotlight with a cut out of a city skyline and the words “The Dark Tower.” The Dark Tower was a popular locale for artists and other social rebels to get together, and where many a rent party was held.   The front of the room had been made into a stage with a backdrop of a round marble staircase, like the foyer in Daddy Warbucks’ mansion. Onstage, a hip-hop/rap group was playing. It seemed a bit out of character to have this sort of music playing instead of, say, classic jazz, but ti was really well done and the band was very good. During the speeches the choice of music came up, and we were reminded that the work of artists, poets and musicians of the era really helped pave the way for modern styles of music, especially rap and hip-hop.

                At the back of the room there was an easel set up, along with paints, brushes, and oddly enough, a hair dryer. It was announced that throughout the evening, an artist was going to be painting a picture which was to be raffled off at the end of the night. I kept checking in on the painting as the night progressed and was very impressed by the modern style and bright colors the artist used. Sadly, I didn’t see it in full completion. This sort of thing, experiencing art in the making, may not have happened at individual parties, but really encapsulated and described the Harlem Renaissance era, and I thought it made for an interesting trip into the past.

                I walked around throughout the evening, admiring the art and fantastic clothes people were wearing, even though I felt I stuck out like a sore thumb in my modern-dress. The main reason for my attending the party that evening was that a friend of mine’s band was going to play, and I spent some time talking with them before their set. They’re a funk/hip-hop group called The Dynamics, and if you haven’t heard them play I urge you to check them out! People were mingling and chatting, enjoying the beautiful evening. At one point there was a costume contest at which a good 15 contestants strutted their stuff for the audience, who voted by clapping. There was also a demonstration by a couple of my friends of a ballroom dance called Lindy Hop, which was a very popular dance of the era. Overall, it was a lovely evening and I’m glad I got to experience it for myself. Andnext time I’m running low on funds, you can bet I’ll be throwing a rent party for myself.

An example of Lindy Hop dancing :)

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