Rudolph Fisher

Biography

Rudolph Fisher brought a physician's discipline to his work in Harlem, earning his medical degree while writing stories that captured the vibrancy and tensions of the community, and he combined science with creativity to chart a new course for African American letters.

His novels, short stories, and the pioneering mystery The Conjure Man Dies celebrated Harlem's scholars and artisans while he also delivered public health lectures, and though his life ended far too soon he is remembered among the great voices of the Harlem Renaissance at Woodlawn Cemetery.