Cleveland Heights-University Heights Libraries Plan Celebration of Harlem Renaissance

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OH - The Cleveland Heights-University Heights Libraries are preparing a series of events related to the theme "Renaissance in Harlem." The program runs from December through March and the first event will be held Dec. 19.

The program will be a celebration of African American writers, artists, musicians, poets, and scholars, specifically creators that were at the heart of Harlem's 1920s and 1930s renaissance. All of the programs will be free and open to the public.

Here's a list of upcoming events:

The "Jazz Age" Renaissance in Harlem - December 19, 7 p.m., Heights Libraries at the Lee Road branch, 2345 Lee Road, Cleveland Heights, 216-932-3600

Focusing on the cultural history of Harlem, one of New York's most famous neighborhoods, this program includes a lecture-discussion segment, live performances of music by Duke Ellington, George Gershwin, and other composers of the Harlem Renaissance era, plus jazzy renditions of holiday favorites!

Short Story Reading Club: “Smoke, Lilies and Jade” by Richard Bruce Nugent - January 11, 7 p.m., Heights Libraries at the Lee Road branch, 2345 Lee Road, Cleveland Heights, 216-932-3600

Each month before the Original Voices Book Club, we’ll read a selected short story aloud. This month’s selection is the first openly gay story published by a black writer, an impressionistic and experimental piece that appeared in the Harlem Renaissance magazine FIRE!!in 1926.

Original Voices Book Club: Not Without Laughter by Langston Hughes - January 11, 7:30 p.m., Heights Libraries at the Lee Road branch, 2345 Lee Road, Cleveland Heights,

Continuously in print since its publication in 1930, this semi-autobiographical book is the Harlem Renaissance poet’s only novel. Detailing the life of an African American boy in small-town Kansas, this quiet classic is a “rich and important work [which] masterfully echoes the black American experience.”

Cleveland Association of Black Storytellers Presents Renaissance in Harlem: Stories and Poems -January 15, 2 p.m., Heights Libraries at the Lee Road branch, 2345 Lee Road, Cleveland Heights,

Come along with us as the Cleveland Association of Black Storytellers presents a celebration of the rich and dynamic voices that made up the African American artistic, literary, and cultural movement flourishing in Harlem during the 1920s and ’30s. This program is for all ages.

Art Study Group: The Harlem Renaissance - January 25, 7 p.m., Cleveland Museum of Art, 11150 East Blvd, Cleveland, OH 44106

We'll explore the blossoming of African American culture and art in the 1920s and '30s in New York by surveying artists and objects, and place them in the context of their influences, their legacies, and their cultural moment. Space is limited and registration is required. Registration opens January 11.

Short Story Reading Club: “The Closing Door” by Angelina Weld Grimkév - February 8, 7 p.m., Heights Libraries at the Lee Road branch, 2345 Lee Road, Cleveland Heights

Each month before the Original Voices Book Club, we’ll read a selected short story aloud. This month’s selection is a haunting tale probing the painful and disturbing consequences of racial injustice from Harlem Renaissance poet and author Angelina Weld Grimké.

Original Voices Book Club: Passing by Nella Larsen - February 8, 7:30 p.m., Heights Libraries at the Lee Road branch, 2345 Lee Road

Set in Harlem in the 1920s, Passing is the story of estranged childhood friends Clare and Irene, whose lives become interwoven after reuniting through a chance encounter. Through her artful plot and character depictions, Larsen’s novel is a fascinating study of the complexities of race and gender.

Craft Club: Jacob Lawrence Inspired Paintings - February 9, 7 p.m., Heights Libraries at the Noble branch, 2800 Noble Road

A monthly adult craft club for all skill levels. This month, try your hand at painting in the style of Harlem Renaissance-influenced artist Jacob Lawrence.

Gifts of the Islands: The Caribbean and the Harlem Renaissance - February 16, 7 p.m., Heights Libraries at the Lee Road branch, 2345 Lee Road

Dr. Jeff Karem, Professor and Chair of the Department of English at Cleveland State University, will talk about Caribbean contributions to the literary and cultural accomplishments of the Harlem Renaissance, which helped make the movement a truly international achievement.

Photo and Event Descriptions from Cleveland Heights Library