A Queer Renaissance In Harlem (feat. George M. Johnson)

Historical Homos

How do you start a renaissance?

The one woman who knows - Beyoncé - was unavailable to answer my questions.

So instead, we've gone back to 1920s Harlem this week, to figure out the good gay truth.

It turns out the Harlem Renaissance was a lot more queer than we learned in school.

And half of its greatest luminaries, who represented a major step forward in Black queer history, have been largely forgotten today.

Three of them are the focus of this week's episode: Alain LeRoy Locke, Gladys Bentley, and Claude McKay.

They are just a fraction of the queer Black people who started, fueled, and memorialized the cultural flowering we now call the Harlem Renaissance.

Join me and my guest as we delve into their lives and figure out what each has to teach us about this fascinating period.

When you're done here, grab a copy of my guest's new book on the subject, which is beautifully illustrated and just came out: ⁠Flamboyants⁠ (2024).

If you want more from Historical Homos, you can join our cult at our website.

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Written and hosted by Bash. Edited by Bash. Guest host: George M. Johnson.