Fire!! : A quarterly devoted to the younger Negro artists, Volume 1, Number 1
"Fire!!: A Quarterly Devoted to the Younger Negro Artists, Volume 1, Number 1" by Wallace Thurman is a literary magazine featuring a collection of works created by young Black artists, likely written during the Harlem Renaissance period. This issue serves as a platform for African American voices, exploring themes of identity, racial struggles, and artistic expression through various forms such as poetry, essays, and plays. At the start of the publication, the
opening sections introduce readers to a collection of sketches, poetry, and editorial commentary. George S. Schuyler's article reflects on the harsh realities faced by Black individuals in the South, revealing a bleak narrative of violence and discrimination. The foreword sets a tone of urgency and passion, using fire as a powerful metaphor for creativity and resilience. Contributions from notable figures like Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston further illustrate the vibrancy of the artistic community, with works that delve into personal experiences of love, race, and the socio-political landscape of their time. This first issue encapsulates the struggles and triumphs of the younger Negro artists, inviting readers into the heart of their creative world. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
Cover designs / Aaron Douglas -- Foreword -- Drawing / Richard Bruce -- Cordelia the Crude : a Harlem sketch / Wallace Thurman -- Color struck : a play in four scenes / Zora Neale Hurston -- Flame from the dark tower : a section of poetry. From the dark tower / Countee Cullen ; A Southern road / Helene Johnson ; Jungle taste ; Finality / Edward Silvera ; The death bed / Waring Cuney ; Elevator boy ; Railroad Avenue / Langston Hughes ; Length of moon / Arna Bontemps ; Little Cinderella ; Streets / Lewis Alexander -- Drawing / Richard Bruce -- Wedding day : a story / Gwendolyn Bennett -- Three drawings / Aaron Douglas -- Smoke, lilies and jade : a novel. Part 1 / Richard Bruce -- Sweat : a story / Zora Neale Hurston -- Intelligentsia : an essay / Arthur Huff Fauset -- Fire burns : editorial comment / Wallace Thurman -- Incidental art decorations / Aaron Douglas.
Credits
Mary Glenn Krause, Carla Foust, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library at Yale University and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at www.pgdp.net
Reading Level
Reading ease score: 85.6 (6th grade). Easy to read.
