Day 3. Hubert Harrison The Voice of Harlem Radicalism.

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A Crucial but Overlooked Revolutionary

Hubert Harrison immigrated from the Danish West Indies (now the U.S. Virgin Islands) to New York City as a teenager. An intellectually gifted student, he soon became one of the most well-read and dynamic figures in Harlem’s early 20th-century political and cultural life.

Unlike many Black leaders of his time, Harrison boldly fused race-conscious activism with socialist analysis, arguing that Black liberation could not be separated from the broader struggle for economic justice. His public speeches drew thousands to Harlem street corners, and his writings appeared in The Masses, The Call, and The New York Times.

In 1917, he founded the Liberty League and edited The Voice, the first Black radical publication during World War I, where he advocated for self-determination and denounced U.S. imperialism and white supremacy.

A Foundation for the Harlem Renaissance

Harrison mentored and inspired many figures who would go on to shape the Harlem Renaissance, including writers, artists, and activists. He believed deeply in the power of education, cultural expression, and working-class unity, emphasizing the importance of uplifting Black consciousness from the ground up.

“Race first does not mean race only, but it means that among the many problems of the day, the problem of the Negro takes precedence.” — Hubert Harrison

Though he died young at just 44 in 1927, his ideas laid the groundwork for both the New Negro Movement and the later Black Power movement.

Legacy and Recognition

Despite his enormous impact, Harrison’s legacy was largely overshadowed for decades. In recent years, historians and scholars have worked to revive awareness of his contributions.

Learn More About Hubert Harrison

📖 Books:
– Hubert Harrison: The Voice of Harlem Radicalism, 1883–1918 by Jeffrey B. Perry

– A Hubert Harrison Reader, edited by Jeffrey B. Perry

🎥 Online Lecture:
– “Hubert Harrison: The Voice of Harlem Radicalism” – recorded lectures by Jeffrey B. Perry on YouTube.

Today’s Reflection

Harrison called out both racism and capitalism with equal clarity and conviction. He invited us not just to speak truth to power—but to build new systems rooted in justice.  As we honor his life, we ask: 

💬 What does it mean to center both race and class in our movements today?

💬What can we learn from Harlem Radicalism as we explore our own efforts in activism and advocacy?

Learn More: The African American Intellectual History provides resources to learn about African American History through essays, articles, videos, podcasts, and more.

Join us tomorrow, as we explore one woman’s history making  career in journalism.

Join us each day this month as we spotlight a different Caribbean American whose legacy calls us to reflect, learn, and celebrate. These stories are about community, culture, and the contributions that come from the rich intersections of heritage and homeland. Our weekly themes will help guide us through different aspects of Caribbean American influence—from activism to art, invention to entrepreneurship—creating a mosaic of identity that is as joyful as it is complex.

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