Jean Toomer
(1894–1967)

Like the other Harlem Renaissance writers, Jean Toomer had a deep interest in the cultural roots of black people. In his work, Toomer expressed his belief that maintaining an awareness of and a sense of pride in the black heritage was vital to the happiness and freedom of the black people.

Born in Washington, D.C., Toomer graduated from New York University in 1918. He then taught for several years in Georgia. His observations during his years as a teacher provided him with the material for Cane (1923)–an unconventional book which consists of prose sketches, stories, poems, and a one-act play, all focusing on the concerns, interests, and experiences of African Americans.

Toomer published few other works during the course of his life. Cane fell into obscurity shortly after its publication, and Toomer was virtually forgotten as a writer. In recent years, however, Cane has come to be recognized as one of the most important works to come out of the Harlem Renaissance and has influenced the work of a number of African American writers.

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