"In paintings, murals, and book illustrations, Aaron Douglas (1899-1979) produced the most powerful visual legacy of the Harlem Renaissance, prompting the philosopher and writer Alain Locke to dub him the "father of Black American art." Douglas's role, as well as that of the Harlem Renaissance in general, in the evolution of American modernism deserves close scholarly attention - attention it finally receives in this illustrated book on his life and work. Its authors argue that Douglas's work opened doors for African American artists in Harlem and beyond, and that it invited a dialogue with modernism that put African American life, labor, and freedom, along with African traditions and motifs, at its center. New information emerges from these pages, reflecting the rich interchange between the visual arts, music, dance, literature, and politics that shaped Douglas's work and also defined the Harlem Renaissance."--BOOK JACKET.