The Harlem Renaissance 1920-1940

First Published in 1996. One of the most interesting features of the Harlem Renaissance was the degree to which black writers and poets were involved in promoting and analyzing their own literary movement. One of its formative events was the 1926 attempt by Wallace Thurman, Langston Hughes and other young writers to publish a literary magazine, FIRE!! This was the first of several efforts by black writers to establish literary journals. While these efforts failed, the magazine Opportunity employed a series of black poets as columnists to analyze and review black literary efforts. This volume collects the writings of this important literary journal as well as including many autobiographical and historical sketches.