This image is the cover for the book A Renaissance in Harlem: Lost Voices of An American Community

A Renaissance in Harlem: Lost Voices of An American Community

As part of the WPA Writer's Project, a number of gifted young authors such as Ralph Ellison, Dorothy West and Vivian Morris, created a vibrant record of Harlem's daily life, nightlife and intellectual scene. Lost for decades in the vaults of The Library of Congress, here for the first time are richly atmospheric essays detailing an exciting place, an evocative period and a wonderfully diverse collection of people. Visit with fish vendors, war veterans, Pullman porters, prostitutes, and countless others. Come listen to the memorable sounds of swing music, the singing and shouting of church choirs, and the lonely plea of mournful laundry workers who sing while they work to pass the time while they toil.

Lionel Bascom

Prof. Lionel Bascom has taught writing in the Department of Writing, Linguistics and Creative Process at Western Connecticut State University for more than 30 years. Prof. Bascom's journalism has been published in the New York Times, Time Inc., United Press International and newspapers and magazines throughout the world. He was twice a member of the distinguished Pulitzer Prize jury in journalism at Columbia University.

Harvard Square