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What was the Harlem Renaissance?
This month’s Patreon book club materials include a discussion of James Weldon Johnson’s The Autobiography of an Ex-Coloured Man. Published anonymously in 1912, and then republished by Knopf in 1927, the novel is a coming-of-age tale that presents the complexities of growing up as a person of color in early 20th-century America.
In order to set the stage for this work, let’s look at the literary movement to which it arguably belongs: the Harlem Renaissance.
Basically, the post-Reconstruction Great Migration led many black Americans to settle in Northern cities such as Chicago, Detroit, and of course, New York, in particular the Harlem portion of Manhattan. The formation of these communities led to an explosion of art, music, and culture. And the influence of this period extends to today, even if the movement itself is usually dated from the 1920s-30s.
If you’ve ever listened to the music of Duke Ellington or Billie Holiday, read the poetry of Langston Hughes, or studied the murals of Aaron Douglas, then you’ve already gotten a taste of the results of this movement. Here are five more works to check out.
- Fauset, Jessie Redmond. Plum Bun.* New York: Stokes Publishing, 1928.
Like several of the works in this list, Fauset’s novel explores the complicated question of “passing” in the context of protagonist Angela’s life. She and her mother are often assumed to be white, while her sister Virginia, and father Junius, are not. This fact leads to some painful moments in the story. Angela’s move to New York then presents her with an opportunity to start fresh with a new identity, along with challenges regarding her relationship with her family, culture, and heritage.
- Hurston, Zora Neale. Their Eyes Were Watching God.* Philadelphia: Lippincott, 1937.
This is still one of my favorite works of all time. While the plot centers around protagonist Janie Crawford’s search for love through several relationships, it is ultimately a story about a woman finding her voice. It provides a powerful commentary on family, friendships between women, gender roles, and intergenerational trauma. In particular, pay attention to how Janie’s relationship with friend Pheoby provides a safe space for her to tell her story.
- Larsen, Nella. Passing.* New York: Knopf, 1929.
Larsen’s Passing examines the complex decisions that two friends, Irene and Clare, must make while navigating their friendships and relationships. This is the story of two friends reuniting, and changing their lives forever. First, there is Clare, who is married to a racist white man ignorant of her background. Then, Irene, whom Clare’s husband assumes to be white as well. Also check out the 2021 film version of this story.
- Larsen, Nella. Quicksand.* New York: Knopf, 1929.
Spanning the territory of Harlem, Copenhagen, and the Deep South, Larsen’s second work on this list follows Helga Crane’s life as a young woman with a Danish mother and a West Indian father. Pay attention in particular to the many attitudes and ideas Helga encounters. There is the bigotry of some of her family members; the activism of her employer Mrs. Hayes-Rore; and strong themes of exoticization and sexualization that come up during her time in Denmark.
- McKay, Claude. Home to Harlem.* New York: Harper, 1928.
Claude McKay’s work deals with the return of the fictional Jake Brown from World War 1. Frustrated with the racism he has encountered during his posting, he deserts. Then, he ventures out to find a community where he can belong. Notice the discussion of stereotypes within the Harlem community here, and the role that music plays in the narrative.
I hope you’ll find a window into one of the most significant cultural movements in the United States through these works. And note that this list is just a small start for those interested in the Harlem Renaissance! Comment below with your thoughts, or with other works you might have read from this period.
