“Black No More” by George Schuyler (★ ★ ★)
Random House Publishing Group │June 29, 1999 │ 208 pages
Originally published in 1931
George Schuyler’s (pronounced Sky-ler) Black No More stands apart from other works of the Harlem Renaissance—satirical, speculative, and boldly irreverent. Schuyler, an outsider to the movement though writing in the same period, crafts a farcical tale about the erasure of Blackness through a fictional procedure that turns Black people white.
While the premise is outlandish in its delivery, it’s also deeply provocative in its agency. The novel critiques racial essentialism, hypocrisy, and classism—within both Black and white communities. Some may find the portrayals of prominent Black thinkers reductive or even self-loathing, but they also provide a rare glimpse into dissenting views within 1930s Black intellectual life.
Schuyler’s writing is sharp and witty, though at times his pacing feels rushed and his satire a bit broad. The novel’s depiction of white supremacists as laughable fools underplays the violent reality of racism in a 1930’s south, yet the sheer absurdity serves the novel’s tonal aims. Sadly the author represents himself in stereotypical ways, not the least of which includes his depictions of racist “southern belles” as the most beautiful in the world.
Black fiction, especially early 20th century fiction, was highly diverse, and it is heartening to see a work of fiction that demonstrates plurality of Black thought as well as literary style. There are many editions of Black No More on the market, but the best one is the Random House 1999 edition with a highly insightful introduction by Ishmael Reed. The two authors are often compared for their unconventional stances on the idea of Black community … character, trajectory and prescription. Therefore, this edition serves as historical record.
Star Review Breakdown:
Literary Technique: ★★★★☆
Message Quality: ★½
Entertainment Value: ★★★★☆
Star Value: 3.2/5 Stars
