The Blacker the Berry

The Blacker the Berry - Wallace Thurman

Celebrating the finest works of the Harlem Renaissance, one of the most important Black arts movements in modern history. 'Why not? She's just as a good as the rest, and you know what they say, "the blacker the berry, the sweeter the juice"' Growing up, Emma Lou Morgan stuck out - her skin was the darkest in every room, even within her own home. With the encouragement of her uncle, Emma flees smalltown Idaho firstly to study in Los Angeles before travelling to Harlem. Though she enjoys the glamour of attending the theatre and the buzz of cabaret, every excursion is tinged with the fear of discrimination. Even in big cities, Emma cannot escape the bigotry of colourism, but can she change how it makes her feel about herself? The Blacker the Berry is an arrestingly vivid portrayal of how very deeply every facet of prejudice runs. 'Thurman's novel presents some of the most layered portrayals of New York City life…from seedy employment agency waiting rooms to swank Harlem hot spots' NPR