Not Without Laughter
Sometimes when I’m lonely, Don’t know why, Keep thinkin’ I won’t be lonely By and by.
Welcome to J-Term, where we discuss Langston Hughes’s 1930 novel: Not Without Laughter, the history and philosophy of the Harlem Renaissance, and finding home despite displacement. Our January selection tells the story of a young boy coming of age in small-town Kansas with his matriarchal family. As a collective, the characters within this short novel reveal varied philosophies and histories of the Black diasporic experience.
We expected to enjoy Hughes’ use of language and imagery, but we did not anticipate everything this short classic contained. We hope you take something away from this spoiler-free episode before, during, or after listening, whether you choose to pick up this classic or one of our contemporary pairings. Today’s pairings include complex families in fiction, sweeping historical accounts, and blues-y musings on the power of music.
Here are a few links on Harlem Renaissance literature to browse:
We will share more detailed spring semester calendars soon. In the meantime, it is not too late to join us for J-Term! On Wednesday, January 25th, we will gather on Zoom to discuss this fabulous novel. You can join us even if you haven’t finished the book, and you can join us with your camera off or on. It’s a come-as-you-are kind of place in our learning community, and we would love to have you.
Join the coziest, nerdiest community on the internet. We are so excited to learn with you this year!
Chelsey & Sara