The daughter of Madam C.J. Walker, A’Lelia Walker was the Kelis of the Harlem Renaissance. The arts patron, who loved expensive cars and jewelry.
Her legendary “The Dark Tower,” salons (where the County Cullen Library now sits on 136th Street at Lenox Avenue, around the corner from the Shomburg Center for Research), included the sparkling literati of the thriving 1920s black arts movement, including gays and lesbians, wealthy whites who trekked to Harlem. (At one party, the heiress served pigs’ feet to white folks and caviar to black folks.) Langston Hughes called the glamorous, 6-foot beauty the “joy goddess.”
Related articles
Become a Harlem Insider!
By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: . You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact
