Customer Reviews

The Power of Pride: Stylemakers and Rulebreakers of the Harlem Renaissance

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As a student of the printed word, I've always been fascinated by the Harlem Renaissance, or the "RenGen" (Renaissance Generation). This book is wonderful to me because it offers information and faces to match the personalities with which I'd found myself identifying with throughout most of my life. It is very uplifting and encouraging to read about such a group of classy, glamorous, educated, eloquent, literate, ambitious, and talented young individuals. Even though a few of their ideals were somewhat disturbing (mainly the whole "paper-bag test" mentality), this book was still thoroughly refreshing. With its wonderful photographs and biographical information, it is a plethora of information in sepia. Today's writers should emulate the literary (prosaic and poetic) elegance and grace of Johnson, Fauset, Larsen, Hurston, Hughes, and others, instead of seemingly automatically gravitating towards a written genre that seems to stress nothing but profanity and over-(overt) sexuality in the African American community. How I wish those days of class could come back to our literary community! Perhaps one day it will.

Marks' and Edkins' book is an elegant portrayal of the lives of those who created the Harlem Renaissance. Beautifully illustrated with historical photographs--most rarely seen, this book should be read by anyone wanting to know about the evolution of American culture. The authors' narrative reveals the strength and creativity of these African American women and men whose energy and talent has given the nation some of its richest cultural forms. They show how they grappled with questions of racial identity in a highly segregated society and how their relationships with each other fostered one of the most important cultural movements in the nation. Anyone wanting to know more about American history , its cultural institutions, and the legacy of racial prejudice should read this book and show it to their children.

This book is fantastic and a source of pride! I studied this period in undergrad. and I love to read anything I can find on the Harlem Renaissance. The book is beautifully done, the photos are great and the choices are interesting. Wondered why the authors placed Bill Robinson in the DC section, but the bios are concise and complete. A great book for young people as well as students of the period.

What a lovely book! The Power of Pride gives and overview of the Harlem Renaissance movement, and then presents lively profiles of important figures from the era. Some became iconic--Louis Armstrong, Josephine Baker (depicted on the cover), Zora Neale Hurston. Others, now forgotten, were just as important at the time, including Walter White, Carl Van Vechten, Nella Larsen.

It was a rare window of time, on a tiny speck of land, where the races harmonized and black talent was recognized and celebrated for its superb quality. Stereotypes were smashed. But alas, it ended all too soon with the coming of the depression. The authors captured this amazing era with lively prose and incredible photos. I will treasure this book.