Review: Harlem speaks : a living history of the Harlem Renaissance

For three decades after World War I, Harlem was the site of burgeoning racial and cultural awareness and ambitions among African Americans. In the opening section of Harlem Speaks, the author, Cary D. Wintz, provides the historical context for what became known as the Harlem Renaissance. In separate sections devoted to poetry, music, politics, art, and the phenomenon of the New Negro, contributors profile many of the era's major figures, including Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, Bessie Smith, Ethel Waters, Josephine Baker, W. E. B. DuBois, Paul Robeson, A. Phillip Randolph, and Marcus Garvey. The essays place the Harlem Renaissance in the broader context of an awakening of black culture throughout the U.S. The book contains references to the accompanying CD, which offers 60 minutes of music, poetry, interviews, performances, and speeches, giving voice to the vibrant life of Harlem. Photographs, drawings, book covers, and posters add to the richness of this collection. A fabulous resource on the Harlem Renaissance.

This primary-source material adds powerful and immediate impact and creates the “Living History” of the subtitle. Black-and-white photos, most from the New York Public Library’s Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, are well captioned and informative. The visual and auditory impact of this title, paired with an in-depth, accessible text, makes it a good choice for browsing or research.

--This review came from Booklist 2/1/2007, Vol. 103 Issue 11, p28, 1p &
School Library Journal; Nov2006, Vol. 52 Issue 11, p165-165, 1/5p

This is an excellent resource for anyone studying the Harlem Renaissance African American or American culture.


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