Hidden Voices 006: Jessie R. Fauset
Educator, Writer, and Key Figure in the Harlem Renaissance
The literary scene of the early 20th century, especially before WW2, has always fascinated me, particularly when viewed in the context of individuals actively trying to make sense of the horrors and absurdity of WW1 while simultaneously grappling with a quickly and ever-changing world.
Within this era of literary time, specific movements emerged, changing the landscape of the literary scene drastically, offering for the first time in the mainstream voices from groups that had been silenced before.
The Harlem Renaissance, which took place between the 1910s and 1920s, was primarily centered in, but not limited to, the Harlem neighborhood of New York City. This renaissance marked a significant emergence of African American culture in the United States, with literature, music, theater, and art flourishing. Key figures such as W.E.B. Du Bois contributed to the Harlem Renaissance, which also brought social and political activism and change alongside the art.
However, a brief dive into the history books reveals that another key figure of the Harlem Renaissance is missing: a woman appointed by W.E.B. Du Bois himself to become the literary editor of his magazine, The Crisis. Who was this woman? Despite my historical fixation on this time period, why had I never heard of her?
This woman’s name was Jessie Redmon. Fauset (thank you
for bringing her to my attention for the first time). Fauset’s impact on the Harlem Renaissance and early 20th-century literature was and still is significant. However, like most forgotten writers from this era, Fauset's work lost recognition because of the drastic shift within the literary scene just before and during the Great Depression and WW2.Despite this, her legacy endures, and her writing, especially her novels, explores themes and subjects that remain relevant nearly one hundred years later.
Early Life:
Jessie R. Fauset was born on April 27, 1882, eighteen years before the turn of the century. She was born in New Jersey to Redmon and Annie Fauset and was one of seven children. Fauset’s mother died when she was young, and her father remarried. Nevertheless, Fauset grew up in a household that emphasized the importance of education.
Fauset attended Philadelphia High School for Girls and graduated as valedictorian of her class before enrolling at Cornell University, where she earned a degree in classical languages. After graduation, Fauset began her career as a teacher while writing in her spare time. She caught the attention of W.E.B. Du Bois, the founder of The Crisis magazine, after submitting articles for publication. Impressed by Fauset’s work, Du Bois offered her a position as a full-time literary editor. Fauset accepted this offer and moved to New York, where her literary career began.
Literary Career:
During her time in New York and while working at The Crisis, Fauset not only encountered but also helped foster the careers of numerous Harlem Renaissance literary figures, including Claude McKay, Nella Larsen, and most notably Langston Hughes, for whom Fauset was the first to publish his work.
Not only did she help bring recognition to the writing of other key figures of this time, but Fauset herself also contributed numerous short stories, poems, and novellas to the publication. With her language expertise, Fauset translated countless works by Black authors from Europe and Africa for publication in The Crisis.
Faucet would remain at The Crisis until 1927, citing differences with Du Bois himself as the reason for her departure. However, Fauset’s time working at the magazine was regarded as the most prolific of the era, and there’s no denying that her pivotal role at the magazine contributed significantly to the impact of The Harlem Renaissance by providing a platform for black voices in literature.
Leaving her position at The Crisis allowed Faucet to concentrate on writing her novels, which would make the most significant impact on her legacy. Faucet’s novels explore themes of racial identity, colorism, gender, and class within the African American experience. She drew inspiration from her life and experiences in her novels, primarily focusing on middle-class black families and their internal and external struggles in a racially divided society.
“Now that she had no strength, now that life stretched around her a dreary procession of sullen, useless days, she realized the beauty inherent in life itself, the miracle of health and sane nerves, of the ability to make a living, of being helpful to others.” - Jessie R. Fauset (There Is Confusion.)
Fauset’s debut novel, There Is Confusion, was first published in 1924. It is regarded as one of the earliest novels that primarily focus on the lives of middle-class African Americans, thereby becoming the first to challenge the prevailing stereotypes of its time by emphasizing themes of racial uplift, colorism, gender roles, and aspiration.
Fauset’s second novel, and her most widely recognized, Plum Bum, was published in 1928. In this novel, Fauset explores the complex theme of passing and racial identity in early 20th-century America. Her protagonist, Angela Murray, is a light-skinned African American who decides to pass as white to gain access to opportunities and personal freedom. However, despite reaping the benefits of her false identity, Angela discovers that denying her heritage comes at a profound emotional and moral cost. This was a complex topic for its time and had not been explored before. Through Angela's journey, Fauset masterfully examines the themes of colorism in relation to self-acceptance and worth, while also critiquing the absurdity and injustice of racially oppressive societies.
Faucet would go on to write two more novels, which also explored similar themes :
“Sometimes I think no matter how one is born, no matter how one acts, there is something out of gear with one somewhere, and that must be changed. Life at its best is a grand corrective.” -Jessie R. Faucet.
End Of Life / Legacy
After leaving The Crisis, Faucet returned to her roots as an educator and spent the rest of her life teaching French at Dewitt Clinton High School in the Bronx while writing and publishing her novels. She married insurance broker Herbert Harris at age 47; the pair would remain together until Harris’s death in 1958. Faucet herself passed in 1961 at the age of 79.
Although she was overlooked in literary history for decades, Faucet’s influence on American literature and culture is undeniable. She shaped the Harlem Renaissance as a writer, editor, and mentor, being one of the first to elevate a generation of Black voices that defined that era. She also played a significant role in challenging the prevailing stereotypes of Black representation in literature by using her experiences as a guide. Renewed scholarly interest in Faucet’s work began to emerge in the 1970s and has continued to grow since, helping restore her rightful place within the literary canon. Faucet deserves to be remembered not just as a contributor, but as a pioneer of a literary movement whose impact is still felt and recognized today.
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jessie_R._Fauset
https://www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/the-forgotten-work-of-jessie-redmon-fauset
https://reedwriteandcreate.com/blog/who-was-jessie-redmom-fauset-novelist