The African-American author and playwright, Wallace Thurman, is best known for his Harlem Renaissance novels: The Blacker the Berry and Infants of the Spring. He was a remarkable intellectual and was the spokesperson for the young artists of the Renaissance era such as Langston Hughes. Sadly, many of his literary works were unsuccessful not because they lacked quality or value, but because they lacked funds.

On this day, February 20^th, in 1929, Wallace Thurman’s first play Harlem opened at the Apollo Theatre and later featured on Broadway. His play highlights the Williams family’s attempt to escape economic hardships in search of a brighter future during the great migration in the South. However, upon arrival in New York, the family is faced with many adversities such as unemployment and increased tensions between races.

Although the play was criticized heavily by some viewers and embraced by others, the majority considered it to be interesting and entertaining. Despite some negative criticism, the production was performed 93 times at the Apollo Theatre and was taken on tour around the United States.