New Biography Revives Hubert Harrison's Forgotten Black Radical Legacy

Brian Kwoba, a history professor, explains that his new book, "Hubert Harrison: Forbidden Genius of Black Radicalism," examines the life of the early-20th-century activist who advocated socialism, anti-imperialism and free love. Born on St. Croix in 1883, Harrison moved to New York, where he experienced stark wealth gaps and racial violence, prompting his radicalization. After being dismissed for criticizing Booker T. Washington, he joined the Socialist Party, organized the Colored Socialist Club, and later worked with the Industrial Workers of the World, speaking at the 1913 Paterson Silk Strike.

Harrison’s Liberty League helped shape Marcus Garvey’s Universal Negro Improvement Association, though Harrison later critiqued Garvey’s nationalist and pro-capitalist tendencies. Kwoba argues that Harrison’s progressive sexual politics and his challenge to the “Harlem Renaissance” narrative have been suppressed, making his rediscovery vital for contemporary movements seeking systemic change.