———. “Sterling A. Brown and the Afro-Modern Mo-
ment,” African American Review31, no. 3 (autumn
1997): 393–397.
Skinner, Beverly Lanier. “Sterling Brown: An Ethno-
graphic Perspective,” African American Review31,
no. 3 (autumn 1997): 417–422.
Brownell, John Charles(1877–1961)
A white playwright and actor whose own plays
that appeared on Broadway during the Harlem Re-
naissance included The Nut Farm(1929), BRAIN
SWEAT(1934), Dream Child(1934), Her Majesty
the Widow(1934), and A Woman of the Soil(1935).
Brain Sweatwas a comedy about a man deter-
mined to refrain from physical labor in order to
achieve a great intellectual feat. The play featured
splendid performances by veteran actors Rose Mc-
Clendon and Billy Higgins. NEW YORK TIMES
drama critic Brooks Atkinson suggested that the
play’s “genial hilarity” was welcome and that it
“dismisse[d] the audience in a cheerful frame of
mind” (NYT,5 April 1934, 24).
Bibliography
Atkinson, Brooks. “On the Advantages of Using the
Mind—‘Brain Sweat’ with a Negro Cast.” New York
Times,5 April 1934, 24.
Brownies’ Book, The
A magazine for African-American children, pro-
duced and published by W. E. B. DUBOIS,JESSIE
FAUSET, and AUGUSTUS GRANVILLEDILL from
January 1920 through December 1921. Dedicated
to “children who with eager look / Scanned vainly
library shelf, and nook, / For history or Song of
Story / That told of Colored People’s glory,” the
magazine sold for $1.50 per copy and included a
diverse array of materials and illustrations, many of
the former written, but left unsigned, by Fauset.
Compelled by the lack of material that would
educate, inspire, and prepare children for life, the
editors and publishers devoted themselves whole-
heartedly to this enterprising cultural project.
LANGSTONHUGHES, then 18 years old, published
his very first work in The Brownies’ Bookand be-
came a regular contributor to the magazine shortly
thereafter. Other writers responded to the call for
works that would shape the children of the race,
including GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON,JAMES
WELDONJOHNSON,NELLALARSEN, and WILLIS
RICHARDSON.
Articles included biographies of black heroes
and heroines, articles about geography, poems, and
plays. Economic woes and a downturn in sub-
scribers for The Brownies’ Book and competition
from other race periodicals like THECRISIS,con-
tributed to the cessation of this invaluable resource
for African-American children, their parents, and
their communities.Bibliography
Lewis, David Levering. W. E. B. DuBois: The Fight for
Equality and the American Century, 1919–1963.New
York: Henry Holt and Company, 2000.
Sylvander, Cheryl. Jessie Redmon Fauset, Black American
Writer.Troy, N.Y.: Whitson, 1981.Brown University
The Ivy League school in Providence, Rhode Is-
land, that was the alma mater of JAYSAUNDERS
REDDINGand where RUDOLPHFISHERearned both
his bachelor’s and master’s degrees and was elected
to PHIBETAKAPPA.Bruce, John Edward(1856–1924)
Born into slavery in Maryland, John Edward Bruce
was one of America’s first black nationalists. He
refused to let his limited access to formal educa-
tion hamper him; he became an avid reader and a
well-published journalist and writer.
By the early 1900s, Bruce was making deliber-
ate moves to preserve African-American history.
He collaborated with ARTHURSCHOMBURG, one
of America’s most impressive bibliophiles and the
man whose collections formed the basis of the
Schomburg Library Archives at the 135THSTREET
BRANCHof the NEWYORKPUBLICLIBRARY.In
1911 Bruce and Schomburg founded the Negro
Society for Historical Research.
Bruce was intrigued by the racial philosophies
of Marcus Garvey and committed himself to Gar-
vey’s organization. He joined the UNIVERSAL
NEGROIMPROVEMENTASSOCIATION(UNIA) and
contributed to NEGROWORLD,the organization’s68 Brownell, John Charles