Artists and Writers of the Harlem Renaissance

by Wendy Hart Beckman

Profiles the lives of ten artists and writers of the Harlem Renaissance, including Langston Huges, Bessy Smith, and Duke Ellington, discussing their backgrounds, the struggles they faced, and their acomplishments.

Genres: Nonfiction

112 pages, Library Binding

First published June 1, 2002

About the author

Wendy Beckman is the author of 10 books (five YA nonfiction and five adult nonfiction): Artists and Writers of the Harlem Renaissance; National Parks in Crisis: Debating the Issues; Communication Tools Made Easy; Dating, Relationships, and Sexuality: What Teens Should Know; Robert Cormier: Banned, Challenged, and Censored; Harlem Renaissance Artists and Writers; Founders and Famous Families of Cincinnati; University of Cincinnati College of Nursing: 125 Years of Transforming Health Care; and The 8 Wonders of Cincinnati. She is also a freelance writer and editor and writing instructor.

She is the co-founder of a nonprofit called "Athletes Joined Against Spondylitis," which she established to raise awareness and funds for research and treatment of a crippling form of arthritis called ankylosing spondylitis. She also has a second-degree black belt in tae kwon do.

Wendy also is a music lover and has studied piano, violin, oboe and voice. For 10 years, she sang in the May Festival Chorus, the official chorus of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and the oldest continuous choral tradition in the Western Hemisphere.

Reviews

[Audra · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent introduction to the major writers and artists of the Harlem Renaissance. If you want to know a little more about Langston Hughes, Countee Cullen, Zora Neale Hurston, Arna Bontemps, Duke Ellington, and Josephine Baker (among others), this is a great place to start. It also have great bibliography with other beneficial reads.

Four stars for some spelling errors. :-)

[Cassie Stoa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This gives a very basic synopsis of prominent figures of the Harlem Renaissance. This is exactly what I was hoping from with this book, but sometimes the writer would jump to the next thing without clearly finishing the thought that had been started in the first. Overall, this was a good starting point, but could have been better written.

[Shawn]

I give this book a five star. Very informative. This book highlighted a lot of important facts about some of the most important figures of the Harlem Renaissance era. The Harlem Renaissance era was not just about writers but actors/actresses, artists, and musicians.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good introduction to some of the well-known players of the Harlem Renaissance. It gives you just enough information to want to learn more. I am especially fascinated by the life of Josephine Baker and want to read more about her.