1912 – Birth of Dorothy West, Harlem Renaissance Author

Dorothy West, born on May 17, 1912, in Boston, Massachusetts, was a pioneering African American writer and a key figure of the Harlem Renaissance. Known for her sharp social insight and elegant prose, West\’s work explored race, class, and gender within Black communities. Her debut novel, The Living Is Easy (1948), examined the complexities of upwardly mobile Black families and the tension between ambition and identity. Though her output was limited, West’s literary voice was distinctive and influential. She also contributed to The New Yorker and helped preserve the legacy of the Harlem Renaissance through essays and mentorship. West lived to be 91, witnessing profound transformations in Black literary culture. Her May 17 birthday is a time to honor Black women writers whose nuanced portrayals of Black life expanded the scope of American literature and redefined cultural narratives.