Renaissance Man from Louisiana : A Biography of Arna Wendell Bontemps (Contributions in Afro-American and African Studies)

Rating:
Summary: The quiet star of the Harlem Renaissance and beyond.
Review: Sadly, there are many who will never have heard anything about Arna W. Bontemps (pronounced "bon-tom") who this book is written about. Had it not been for the poet Langston Hughes, I too would not know who Arna Bontemps was. The two best friends were both struggling African American writers when they met in 1924... a friendship which would last until Mr. Hughes untimely death in 1967. Both were born in 1902. This book details Mr. Bontemps' life, and while he lived during a very exciting time in our history, he lived during a time of struggle. African American writers did not always receive all the same breaks as white writers. Then too, there were also some of the other horrors of the time as well. Even so, Mr. Bontemps couragiously plunged onward. Despite struggling to raise a fine family of six children with his wife Alberta, Mr. Bontemps still managed to follow his dream of writing novels, poems, short stories, children's books, and articles. After a few years in Harlem, he obtained his Masters in Library Science, and eventually became the Librarian/curator at Fisk University, where he then remained for many years until his retirement. When I read about Mr. Bontemp's life, and of his place in the lives of others during that time, I am always reminded of the song, "The Wind Beneath My Wings." You know, "You are my hero," and all that? Arna Bontemps quietly, yet always, was the constant, uplifting wind that helped keep Langston Hughes going, and many others going. And reading about his life, he keeps me going too. This book takes us from Arna Bontemps' birth to his death...through his struggles and many accomplishments...and those of many others during this time who touched his life. Though the subject matter meant alot to me, I can't say that this is a well written book. It really draaagggs in places, and deserved to be written better. Nevertheless, this is the only biography that I know of about Mr. Bontemps, and if you are interested in his life, or, Langston Hughes' life, or the Harlem Renaissance, then I strongly recommend this illustrated book.

Rating:
Summary: The quiet star of the Harlem Renaissance and beyond.
Review: Sadly, there are many who will never have heard anything about Arna W. Bontemps (pronounced "bon-tom") who this book is written about. Had it not been for the poet Langston Hughes, I too would not know who Arna Bontemps was. The two best friends were both struggling African American writers when they met in 1924... a friendship which would last until Mr. Hughes untimely death in 1967. Both were born in 1902. This book details Mr. Bontemps' life, and while he lived during a very exciting time in our history, he lived during a time of struggle. African American writers did not always receive all the same breaks as white writers. Then too, there were also some of the other horrors of the time as well. Even so, Mr. Bontemps couragiously plunged onward. Despite struggling to raise a fine family of six children with his wife Alberta, Mr. Bontemps still managed to follow his dream of writing novels, poems, short stories, children's books, and articles. After a few years in Harlem, he obtained his Masters in Library Science, and eventually became the Librarian/curator at Fisk University, where he then remained for many years until his retirement. When I read about Mr. Bontemp's life, and of his place in the lives of others during that time, I am always reminded of the song, "The Wind Beneath My Wings." You know, "You are my hero," and all that? Arna Bontemps quietly, yet always, was the constant, uplifting wind that helped keep Langston Hughes going, and many others going. And reading about his life, he keeps me going too. This book takes us from Arna Bontemps' birth to his death...through his struggles and many accomplishments...and those of many others during this time who touched his life. Though the subject matter meant alot to me, I can't say that this is a well written book. It really draaagggs in places, and deserved to be written better. Nevertheless, this is the only biography that I know of about Mr. Bontemps, and if you are interested in his life, or, Langston Hughes' life, or the Harlem Renaissance, then I strongly recommend this illustrated book.