In 1919\, as civil and social unr est grips the country\, there is a little corner of America\, a place call ed Harlem where something special is stirring. Here\, the New Negro is ris ing and Black pride is evident everywhere&hellip\;in music\, theatre\, fas hion and the arts. And there on stage in the center of this renaissance is \;Jessie Redmon Fauset\, the new literary editor of \;the preemin ent Negro magazine \;The Crisis.
\nW.E.B. Du Bois\, the founder and editor of \;The Crisis\, has charged her with discovering young wr iters whose words will change the world. Jessie attacks the challenge with fervor\, quickly finding sixteen-year-old \;Countee Cullen\, seventee n-year-old \;Langston Hughes\, and \;Nella Larsen\, who becomes on e of her best friends. \;Under Jessie&rsquo\;s leadership\, \;The Crisis \;thrives\, the writers become notable and magazine subscriptio ns soar. Every Negro writer in the country wants their work published in t he magazine now known for its groundbreaking poetry and short stories.&nbs p\;
\nJessie&rsquo\;s rising star is shining bright&hellip\;.but her relationship with W.E.B. could jeopardize all that she&rsquo\;s built. Th e man\, considered by most to be the leader of Black America\, is not only Jessie&rsquo\;s boss\, he&rsquo\;s her lover. And neither his wife\, nor their fourteen-year-age difference can keep the two apart. Their torrid an d tumultuous affair is complicated by a secret desire that Jessie harbors &mdash\; to someday\, herself\, become the editor of the magazine\, a posi tion that only W.E.B. Du Bois has held.
\nIn the face of overwhelmin g sexism and racism\, Jessie must balance her drive with her desires. Howe ver\, as she strives to preserve her legacy\, she&rsquo\;ll discover the h igh cost of her unparalleled success.
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If you have any questions about th is program\, including accommodations\, please \;contact Valerie at nw programs@cc-pl.org.
\nPlease see all \;our program offerings in our online newsletter at cc-pl.org/connections.
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