Harlem Writers Guild facts for kids

The Harlem Writers Guild (HWG) is the oldest group for African-American writers. It started in 1950 as the Harlem Writers Club. John Oliver Killens, Rosa Guy, John Henrik Clarke, Willard Moore, and Walter Christmas founded it.

The Guild helps African-American writers share their stories. It lets them express their experiences as Black people in the United States. Besides publishing books, the Harlem Writers Guild also works for social change. It hosts events to celebrate and support its members.

History of the Guild

The Harlem Writers Guild began in 1950. It was a place where African-American writers could improve their writing skills. Before this, a group called "The Committee for the Negro in the Arts" lost its funding. Many writers felt left out of the main writing scene in New York City.

The HWG was also a part of the Black Arts Movement in the 1960s. This movement celebrated Black culture and art. The Guild's goal is still to help writers from the African diaspora publish their works. The African diaspora refers to people of African descent living around the world.

Many famous writers have been part of the HWG. These include Lonne Elder III, Douglas Turner Ward, Ossie Davis, Paule Marshall, Audre Lorde, Maya Angelou, and Sarah E. Wright.

In the 1950s, John Oliver Killens invited writers to meet in Harlem. They would share and discuss their writings. The Harlem Writers Guild grew from these meetings. New authors wrote about important topics like racism and their daily lives. The Guild helped Black authors share their unique stories. This was important because mainstream books often ignored African-American experiences.

Working for Social Change

The Harlem Writers Guild worked to expand its literary works. It also created a space to promote its members' writing. The group used its connections and voices to push for social change.

In the 1960s, the Guild supported Malcolm X. They also spoke out about independence movements in Angola and Mozambique. The group worked to end unfair racist rules in South Africa. They used their connections to share news about marches and Freedom Riders. Freedom Riders were activists who rode buses to challenge segregation.

In 1977, the United Nations Society of Writers honored the HWG. By 1986, John O. Killens estimated that Guild members had published over 300 works. These included fiction, non-fiction, poetry, plays, and screenplays. Many of these works received awards and praise.

Harlem Writers Guild Press

In 2000, the HWG partnered with a digital publisher called iUniverse. They created their own publishing label, the Harlem Writers Guild Press.

An anthology called Beloved Harlem: A Literary Tribute to Black America's Most Famous Neighborhood was published in 2005. It was edited by William H. Banks Jr., a former executive director of HWG. This book featured works by many HWG members. These included Dr. John Henrik Clarke, Grace F. Edwards, Rosa Guy, and Walter Dean Myers.

The Harlem Renaissance

During the 1920s and 1930s, many African Americans moved from the South to Northern cities. They hoped for better opportunities. This led to the Harlem Renaissance. It was a time when art, music, and literature by Black artists boomed in Harlem, New York.

This period was seen as a rebirth of African-American arts. Harlem became a center for Black culture and community. This growth in Black art forms paved the way for a new era of African-American literature.

Guild Members

Many writers have been part of the Harlem Writers Guild. Here are some past and present members:

More recent additions to the HWG include:

• Angela Dews
• Miriam Kelly Ferguson
• Cordenia Paige
• Eartha Watts Hicks
• Sylvia White

John Henrik Clarke's Contributions

John Henrik Clarke was a key co-founder of the Harlem Writers Guild. He helped create a special place for African-American writers. Clarke was a self-taught scholar. He learned a lot from his mentor, Arturo Alfonso Schomburg.

Clarke believed it was important to understand the African-American experience. He felt it should be seen through its own culture, not just from a European viewpoint. His ideas helped show that African-American lives have great worth and value. This helped preserve the Black experience in literature.

John Oliver Killens' Impact

Portrait of John Oliver Killens

John Oliver Killens was the first Guild member to have his work published. Killens was known for his powerful stories. These stories aimed to bring about social change. His most famous novel is Youngblood, published in 1954. This book is considered a very important protest novel of the American Civil Rights Movement. It tells the story of an African-American family living in Georgia under Jim Crow laws. These laws enforced racial segregation.

Guild Events

On March 12, 1972, the Harlem Writers Guild hosted a party. It celebrated Chester Himes' autobiography The Quality of Hurt. The event took place at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in New York City. Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, and John A. Williams were among those who spoke.

In March 2021, the brand Rémy Martin partnered with the Harlem Writers Guild. They honored artists from Harlem in a campaign called "Voices of Harlem." This partnership helped give younger generations tools and confidence. It encouraged them to appreciate their African-American literary heritage.

Social Movements and Activism

Members of the Harlem Writers Guild were involved in important protests. Along with the Black nationalist group On Guard for Freedom, they protested outside the United Nations. This happened in 1961 after the assassination of Congolese Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba.

Rosa Guy, Maya Angelou, and Paule Marshall were among the activists. They entered the building to stage a sit-in, showing their strong disapproval.