Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Jessie R. Fauset

Role / Field:

Pioneering African-American writer, editor, and educator of the Harlem Renaissance.

Born:

1882-04-27

Died:

1961-04-30

Century / Era:

1882s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Jessie Redmon Fauset (April 27, 1882 – April 30, 1961) was an American editor, poet, essayist, novelist, and educator. Her work helped sculpt African-American literature in the 1920s as she focused on portraying a true image of African-American life and history. Her black fictional characters were working professionals which was an inconceivable concept to American society during this time. Her story lines related to themes of racial discrimination, "passing", and feminism.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

From 1919 to 1926, Fauset's position as literary editor of The Crisis, an NAACP magazine, allowed her to contribute to the Harlem Renaissance by promoting literary work that related to the social movements of this era. Through her work as a literary editor and reviewer, she encouraged black writers to represent the African-American community realistically and positively. Before and after working on The Crisis, she worked for decades as a French teacher in public schools in Washington, DC, and New York City. She published four novels during the 1920s and 1930s, exploring the lives of the black middle class. She also was the editor and co-author of the African-American children's magazine The Brownies' Book.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

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Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

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• Albert Soboul — Shared historical date (04-27 · Born) (1914): Influential French historian specializing in the French Revolution and Napoleonic eras.
• Anouk Aimée — Shared historical date (04-27 · Born) (1932): Iconic French actress known for her captivating roles from the 1940s to 2010s.
• A. E. Housman — Shared historical date (04-30 · Died) (1936): English classicist and poet, renowned for his scholarship and melancholic verse.
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• 1882 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1882
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Frequently Asked Questions about Jessie R. Fauset