The Harlem Renaissance was one of the richest, most vibrant, and most culturally generative artistic periods in American history and the work that emerged from that period continues to shape the landscape of American arts and letters today. In this episode, we’re going to explore some of the writers, artists, and musicians who turned Harlem into a world-renowned hub of art and culture, and delve into the factors that brought them all together in the first place.

When we think about the Harlem Renaissance, the arts come immediately to mind. But new political theories were also blossoming during this time. We’ve talked about Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. DuBois, but today we’ll get into some other thinkers with different ideas about civil rights, fair labor practices, and Black nationalism.