Journal #13

Gwendolyn Bennet
A woman of many talents, she was a poet, a writer, an artists, a widow, a mother, a teacher and even an antique salewoman. She was the first black person elected to the school's honor society. She used her talents to write for the Crisis, and eventually becaome the director of the Harlem arts center. She was constantly being investigated for Communist activity and was eventually let go because of these suspicions. She became a teacher after she was let go. She wrote "Wedding Day," which was one of our class readings. She used her life experiences to become an authentic writer. Wedding Day opens up a discourse, if Paul could marry a white woman, isn’t he capable of getting over his prejudice of white people? Paul sought acceptance, and he became willing to sacrifice his stubborn prejudice for her. All it takes is love to unravel a lifetime of hate.

Langston Hughes
Bennet and Hughes shared a lot of similarities. Born in 1902, his parents split up shortly afterwards. They moved a lot and his childhood was very unstable. His relationship with his grandmother was very important to him and she inspired him. He wrote for the Crisis (along with Bennet) and attended Columbia University (also like Bennet) and decided to leave. He quit school altogether, he wanted to get away from the US, visiting Africa and experiencing first hand the effects of Colonialism in Africa which would later influence his writing. He wrote and revised the Weary Blues, one of his most famous poems. When he finally returns to America and works as a busboy. When Vachel Lindsay ate there he read his poems and was “discovered” by Lindsay. Both writers felt that it was important to write about the real “black experience.” He and Zora Neale Hurston worked on a play together, but had a falling out when they argued over ownership of the work.

Dorothy West
Encouraged by Jackie Kennedy to finish her novel the Wedding. She was 88 years old when she finished that novel. Oprah Winfrey supported her efforts and Halle Berry starred in the movie. She died in the same year that it was published.