Harlem Nocturne : Women Artists and Progressive Politics During World War II

"As World War II raged overseas, Harlem witnessed a battle of its own. Brimming with creative and political energy, Harlem's diverse array of artists and activists launched a bold cultural offensive aimed at winning democracy for all Americans, regardless of race or gender. In Harlem Nocturne, esteemed scholar Farah Jasmine Griffin tells the stories of three black female artists whose creative and political efforts fueled this movement for change: novelist Ann Petry, a major new literary voice; choreographer and dancer Pearl Primus, a pioneer in her field; and composer and pianist Mary Lou Williams, a prominent figure in the emergence of Be-Bop. As Griffin shows, these women made enormous strides for social justice during the war, laying the groundwork for the Civil Rights Movement before the Cold War temporarily froze their democratic dreams. A rich account of three distinguished artists and the city that inspired them, Harlem Nocturne captures a period of unprecedented vitality and progress for African Americans and women in the United States."-- Provided by publisher As World War II raged overseas, Harlem witnessed a battle of its own. Brimming with creative and political energy, the neighborhood's diverse array of artists and activists took advantage of a brief period of progressivism during the war years to launch a bold cultural offensive aimed at winning democracy for all Americans, regardless of race or gender. Ardent believers in America's promise, these men and women helped to lay the groundwork for the Civil Rights Movement before Cold War politics and anti-Communist fervor temporarily froze their dreams at the dawn of the postwar era. In Harlem Nocturne , esteemed scholar Farah Jasmine Griffin tells the stories of three black female artists whose creative and political efforts fueled this historic movement for change: choreographer and dancer Pearl Primus, composer and pianist Mary Lou Williams, and novelist Ann Petry. Like many African Americans in the city at the time, these women weren't't native New Yorkers, but the metropolis and its vibrant cultural scene gave them the space to flourish and the freedom to express their political concerns. Pearl Primus performed nightly at the legendary Cafe Society, the first racially integrated club in New York, where she debuted dances of social protest that drew on long-buried African traditions and the dances of former slaves in the South. Williams, meanwhile, was a major figure in the emergence of bebop, collaborating with Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonious Monk, and Bud Powell and premiering her groundbreaking Zodiac Suite at the legendary performance space Town Hall. And Ann Petry conveyed the struggles of working-class black women to a national audience with her acclaimed novel The Street , which sold over a million copies — a first for a female African American author. A rich biography of three artists and the city that inspired them, Harlem Nocturne captures a period of unprecedented vitality and progress for African Americans and women, revealing a cultural movement and a historical moment whose influence endures today. "In Harlem Nocturne, eminent scholar Farah Jasmine Griffin tells the stories of three black female artists who emerged during this period of unprecedented openness, flourishing professionally while also making enormous political strides for their fellow women and African Americans. Novelist Ann Petry, choreographer and dancer Pearl Primus, and composer and pianist Mary Lou Williams all achieved great fame during the 1940s. Like many African Americans in New York at the time, they weren't native to the city; Petry, a fourth generation New Englander, was born in Connecticut and arrived in Harlem as a newlywed, while Williams was born in Atlanta and only settled in Harlem after years on the road. Primus, for her part, was born in Trinidad and emigrated to New York when she was three years old. All three of these women would make significant contributions to their fields. Petry joined Richard Wright as a major new literary voice; through her work, especially her acclaimed novel The Street, she wrote about the complexities of life for working class black women. Mary Lou Williams became a major figure in the emergence of Be-Bop, and as a keyboardist and composer defied the notion that women could only contribute to jazz as vocalists. Pearl Primus, meanwhile, was a favorite of New York Times dance critic John Martin and performed across the globe and in front of enormous crowds, including at the 1943 Negro Freedom Rally at Madison Square Garden to an audience of 20,000"-- Provided by publisher A history of New York's vibrant cultural and political scene in the 1940s as seen through the lives of three female African-American artists: novelist Ann Petry, choreographer Pearl Primus, and composer Mary Lou Williams.