Customer Reviews

Nigger Heaven (National Poetry Series)

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Van Vechten's work, which gained its title from an old slang reffering to the back of the theatre, illuminated the complexity of "white Negrophilia" at a historical moment in which "white reconnaissance missions" to Harlem were becoming more popular. Ultimately, Nigger Heaven served not only "as a test-case for black attitudes about white Negrophilia," it also stood as a touchstone for the economic crisis facing black publishing. The publishing of Nigger Heaven signaled the importance of fostering Black literary venues and raised significant questions for Harlem Renaissance writers as to their audience, their tradition, and their relations within a community.

This book is a re-release of a book written during the Harlem Renaissance. There will much debate when the re-release hits shelves, just like when it first came out. The problem is, it's only a mediocre book. The author used the title to garner attention; unfortunately the book isn't good enough to warrant it. It's only a decent read at best. But, I would recommend reading it if for no other reason than so that you can know what everyone is talking about when the fireworks begin.

Nigger Heaven was/is a highly controversal novel that came out during the Harlem Renaissance as noted before. I think for all that it is worth, Van Vetchen influenced a lot of the writers of the Harlem Renaissance. His importance to the period is fact,however one should look at the work before they judge it. It is an interesting look at how this work ignited the fire that fueled the lore of white america to black america; combining the once divided country.

I have not had the opportunity to read this book. I am interested in understanding what all the controversy was about when this was first published during the Harlem Renaissance.