Harlem's New Renaissance

Available for over a year

The Harlem Renaissance was an intellectual, social, and artistic explosion of African-American culture which began in 1919. The great migration brought many people from the Southern States of America north into urban areas where their culture flourished. Harlem became a centre for artistic endeavour, particularly writing and music. Publishers became interested in the work of writers such as Langston Hughes and lots of artists came to prominence. Many of the ideas and also the issues that were explored then are still relevant today. As a resident of Harlem, Darryl Pinckney, novelist, playwright and essayist has a particular interest in the period. He explores the Harlem Renaissance and its legacy with Kevin Young - director of the Chomburg centre, poet and poetry editor of the New Yorker, Tracy Smith - who has just finished her term as Poet Laureate in the US, Melissa Barton, Curator of American Literature, Drama and Prose Writings at Yale University, Abiodun Oyewole, founder member of The Last Poets and Harlem resident, the artist LaTasha N Nevada Diggs. Produced by Susan Roberts in Salford.