Arna Bontemps

1902–1973 (age 71)

Writer/Poet

Biography

Arna Bontemps was a vital voice of the Harlem Renaissance, bringing the rhythms of the American South into poetry and prose while chronicling African American life in novels such as "God Sends Sunday" and collaborating with contemporaries on anthologies that uplifted Black stories.

He later served as a librarian for the Library of Congress and as a professor, shaping future writers while continuing to produce books for young readers and document African American history, leaving a legacy of lyrical storytelling and mentorship.

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