Lewis Grandison Alexander facts for kids

Lewis Grandison Alexander (born July 4, 1898 – died November 25, 1945) was an American poet, actor, playwright, and costume designer. He lived in Washington, D.C. and was closely connected to the Harlem Renaissance period in New York. Alexander spent most of his creative time writing poetry, which is what he is best known for today.

Early Life and Education

Lewis Alexander was born on July 4, 1898, in Washington D.C. He went to public schools in Washington as a child. Not much is known about Alexander's early life until he started writing poetry at age 17. He was especially interested in Japanese poetry styles like haiku and tanka.

Alexander later studied at Howard University in Washington D.C. There, he was an active member of the Howard Players, the school's theater group. He continued his studies at the University of Pennsylvania. Alexander was one of the few Black American poets to write in Japanese styles.

Poetry and Publications

Alexander became well-known for his poems published in many popular journals and magazines. He was often published alongside other major Harlem Renaissance writers. These included Langston Hughes, Gwendolyn Bennett, and Countee Cullen.

In December 1923, Alexander wrote an article about Japanese hokku poetry. It was published in The Crisis magazine, along with two of his poems. He also appeared several times in Opportunity: Journal of Negro Life. This was a popular literary magazine linked to the Harlem Renaissance.

His poem "Enchantment" was published in Alain Locke's famous book, The New Negro. Alexander's most famous poem, "Negro Woman," appeared in Opportunity at least twice. It is also found in many other poetry collections.

In 1927, Alexander and other writers, including Langston Hughes, tried to create a new magazine. It was called Fire!! and aimed to share the Black experience in America. Sadly, only one issue was published because their office burned down.

Alexander's work was also published outside the United States. In October 1926, he appeared in a special issue of The Palms. This was a poetry journal from Guadalajara, Mexico. This issue, edited by Countee Cullen, included two of Alexander's poems. They were "A Collection of Japanese Hokku" and "Dream Song."

Contribution to the Harlem Renaissance Movement

Even though Alexander did not live in Harlem, he was an active part of the Harlem Renaissance movement. Being outside of Harlem helped spread the new ideas that were popular in New York City. After writing a lot in Washington, Alexander moved around the country. He joined literary groups wherever he lived.

In Philadelphia, he was part of a group of young writers. Their work often appeared in a smaller magazine called Black Opals. In Boston, his work was featured in the Saturday Evening Quill.

Alexander was also important at the University of North Carolina. He served as a special editor for The Carolina Magazine. This was the official student literary publication. He helped the magazine feature Black poets and writers. With Alexander's help, the magazine continued to publish special issues. These issues were called Negro Poetry Numbers and Negro Play Numbers. Later issues of Negro Poetry Numbers were dedicated to him.

Theater Work

While Alexander is best known as a poet, he was also a playwright, actor, and costume designer.

After acting in theater at Howard University, Alexander joined a group of playwrights in Washington D.C. He directed all the plays at the Randall Community Center in Washington. He also directed plays for the Ira Aldridge Players. He studied and performed with The Ethiopian Art Theatre. During their 1923 tour, Alexander appeared in Oscar Wilde's Salome and Shakespeare's The Comedy of Errors.