Lit Hub has published a portion of Bo McMillan's dissertation in an article titled "Why Harlem? Considering the Site of 'Civil Rights by Copyright,' 100 Years Later."
Reflecting on the important role of real estate in accelerating the racial and spatial inequality of Black Harlem, McMillan asks "Why Harlem?" to consider the significance of location and housing in determining "the texture and success of literary movements" like the Harlem Renaissance:
What made Harlem special compared to
anywhere else in the U.S. was that it
served as a living example of collective
Black modernity, Black self-determination,
and Black belongingness.
McMillan is currently preparing a book manuscript based on his PhD research about narratives and neighborhood change in the U.S.
To read the article in its entirety, click here.
