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20 Female Harlem Renaissance Writers You Should Know

By Jonathon Sturgeon

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The Harlem Renaissance of the 1920’s was an astounding explosion of African-American cultural innovation, producing art, literature, poetry, and of course, fantastic music. In honor of Black History month, we are encoring our tribute to this magnificent period. We’ll hear from stars like Mamie Smith, Fats Waller, Louis Armstrong, and Duke Ellington, as we use their music to explore the often fraught history of Manhattan’s heights. Produced by Ned Sublette.

vintageblackglamour

Our beloved Langston Hughes was born 113 years ago today in Joplin, Missouri. I am going to inundate you with photos and links to his poetry today, so I hope you’re ready. This photo was taken in New York City in 1947 by his friend, the legendary French photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson. The men were once roommates in the early 1930s in Mexico along with the Mexican poet Andres Henestrosa. According to Arnold Rampersad’s biography on Mr. Hughes, he called their place “a vivienda, or apartment” but Mr. Cartier-Bresson insisted that “It was no apartment. It was a shack. We lived in a very humble place near the Lagunilla market and the little bars where the mariachi bands played. It was very cheap because we didn’t have any money. We pooled what we had and worked a little and entertained our girl friends there and enjoyed life a great deal.” Photo: Magnum Photos

vintageblackglamour

Langston Hughes flanked by Zora Neale Hurston (right) and Jessie Redmon Fauset in at the grave of Booker T. Washington at Tuskegee Institute in 1927. Mr. Hughes and Ms. Hurston ran into Ms. Fauset, who was invited to speak at a Wednesday speakers series at Tuskegee and together, they made the trip to Mr. Washington’s grave site. It was also during this trip that Mr. Hughes and Ms. Hurston discussed the possibility of doing a certain folk opera together. Photo: Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, New York Public Library.

mydaguerreotypelibrarian

Writer and librarian, Regina M. Anderson helped jumpstart the Harlem Renaissance. From Wikipedia:

Born in Chicago, she studied at Wilberforce University, University of Chicago, and Columbia University before becoming a librarian at the 135th Street (Harlem) branch of theNew York Public Library. In 1924 she organized a dinner for black New York intellectuals and writers, including W. E. B. Du Bois, Jean Toomer, Countee Cullen, andLangston Hughes. The dinner was one of the coalescing events of the Harlem Renaissance.

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Nora Douglas Holt, ca. 193 (by Unidentified Photographer)

During the roaring 1920s, Nora Holt was a scandalous socialite and party girl, as exemplified by her five marriages and countless lovers… Immensely talented, Holt was a musician and singer who composed over 200 pieces. In 1918 she was the first African American woman to earn her master’s degree from Chicago Musical College. A major player during the Harlem Renaissance, she was the rich “it” girl of Harlem society.

m4m-ethnic-culture

Gladys Bentley was a popular Blues singer during the 1920s Harlem Renaissance. She dressed in men’s clothing, her signature look was a tuxedo and top hat. She was very out about her sexual orientation and reputation as a ‘bulldagger’ or butch lesbian and she openly flirted with women in the audience.

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