The Nineteenth Amendment, which grants
women the right to vote, is passed.
1920
The Universal Negro Improvement Association,
headed by Marcus Garvey, organizes its First Inter-
national Convention of the Negro Peoples of the
World in New York City.
The Emperor Jonesby Eugene O’Neill, and the
play that will feature Charles Gilpin and Paul
Robeson in the legendary title role, opens in New
York City.
James Weldon Johnson becomes the first
African-American officer of the National Associa-
tion for the Advancement of Colored People. He
will serve in this post for 10 years.
1921
Jessie Fauset and W. E. B. DuBois begin publica-
tion of The Brownies’ Book,a magazine for children
of color.
1922
James Weldon Johnson publishes The Book of
American Negro Poetry,the first comprehensive an-
thology of 20th-century African-American poetry.
Claude McKay publishes Harlem Shadows,a
celebrated work that many regard as the first major
work of the Harlem Renaissance.
William Elmer Harmon establishes the Har-
mon Foundation, an organization that dispenses
prestigious awards to promising and established
artists of color.
1923
The National Urban League begins publication of
Opportunity: A Journal of Negro Lifeand appoints
Charles S. Johnson as its first editor. The journal
continues publication until 1949.
Willis Richardson, author of The Chip Woman’s
Fortune, becomes the first African American to
have a nonmusical drama performed on Broadway.
Jean Toomer publishes Cane.
1924
Jessie Fauset publishes There Is Confusion,the first
novel by an African-American woman of the
Harlem Renaissance.
The notable Civic Club dinner, organized by
Charles Johnson in honor of Jessie Fauset and
often regarded as one of the most celebrated gath-
erings of the Harlem Renaissance, is held in New
York City.1925
Opportunitybegins sponsoring annual literary con-
tests that become one of the most celebrated as-
pects of the period.
Survey Graphic,the leading American social
work journal, devotes its March issue to African-
American writers and subjects. Alain Locke is the
guest editor of the periodical volume, entitled
“Harlem: Mecca of the New Negro,” that leads to
his edited anthology entitled The New Negro: An
Interpretation.
Countee Cullen makes his literary debut with
the publication of Color.
Garland Anderson, the author of Appearances,
becomes the first African-American playwright to
see a full-length production of his work staged on
Broadway.
The Inter-State Tattler,a New York City–based
newspaper, is established and is published through
1932.
A. Philip Randolph is instrumental in the
founding of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Por-
ters, the first African-American union to be affili-
ated with the American Federation of Labor.1926
The innovative but short-lived journal Fire!!,
edited by Wallace Thurman, makes its debut.
W. E. B. DuBois, editor of the The Crisis,
Regina Andrews, and Gwendolyn Bennett estab-
lish The Crisis Guild of Writers and Artists, known
by the acronym Crigwa, at the 135th Street
Branch of the New York Public Library.
Arthur Schomburg’s unmatched collection of
artifacts relating to African and African-American
history and culture becomes part of the holdings of
the 135th Street Branch of the New York Public
Library.
Langston Hughes publishes The Weary Blues,
his first volume of poetry.
Carl Van Vechten publishes Nigger Heaven.
Eric Walrond publishes Tropic Death.1927
A number of impressive edited collections of
poems, prose, and drama are published. Works in-
clude Charles Johnson’s Ebony and Topaz: A Col-
lectanea,Countee Cullen’s Caroling Dusk,Alain584 Encyclopedia of the Harlem Literary Renaissance