Podcast Summary: All Of It with Alison Stewart

Episode: A Historical Fiction Novel About the First Black Woman to Helm 'The Crisis'

Air Date: August 24, 2025
Guest: Victoria Christopher Murray
Topic: Exploring “Harlem Rhapsody,” a historical fiction novel about Jessie Redmon Fauset, the first Black woman literary editor of 'The Crisis'

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode centers on Victoria Christopher Murray’s latest historical fiction novel, “Harlem Rhapsody,” which revives the remarkable, often overlooked life of Jessie Redmon Fauset. Fauset, a pivotal figure in cultivating the Harlem Renaissance as the first Black woman to helm the NAACP’s magazine 'The Crisis', is depicted as both literary midwife and resilient editor. The episode dives into Fauset’s historical significance, her relationships with major Harlem Renaissance figures, and how historical fiction can bring these lesser-told stories to light.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Jessie Redmon Fauset’s Historical Impact

• Fauset is described as the "midwife of the Harlem Renaissance," renowned for mentoring groundbreaking writers like Langston Hughes, Countee Cullen, and Nella Larsen.
• She also created 'The Brownies’ Book,' the first magazine for Black children ([00:09]–[01:04]).

2. Victoria Christopher Murray’s Motivation & Research

• Murray, a writer herself, was first drawn to the Harlem Renaissance when looking for an engaging historical figure to dedicate years of research and writing to ([02:22]).
• She found Fauset obscured in scholarly sources, typically only referenced in connection to W.E.B. Du Bois, until discovering suggestions of a romantic affair between them ([03:07]–[03:49]).

  “There were no articles about just her at first... she was attached to this man.” — Victoria Christopher Murray ([03:07])

• She read extensively (biographies, JSTOR articles), gained voice insights, and rooted fictionalized moments in historical fact ([08:24]–[09:22]).

3. Historical Fiction: Balancing Fact & Imagination

• Every scene is “anchored in history”—where Fauset was, who she met, real-life events—then filled out with plausible dialogue and interior life ([08:24]–[09:22]).

  “That’s why I study the characters first before I even write a word. I have read every biography, everything that I can to get their voices...” — Victoria Christopher Murray ([08:49])

4. Fauset’s Early Life, Career, and Family

• Fauset’s academic prowess: valedictorian, Cornell graduate, studied in France, initially a teacher at Dunbar High (Washington, D.C.) ([04:06]–[06:14]).
• Strong influence from her Jewish stepmother, Bella, who was committed to racial integration and urged Jessie’s ambition:

  “Her stepmother made Jessie very aware of who she was, but pushed her to the greatest limits.” — Victoria Christopher Murray ([04:52])

• Their complex relationship reflects broader themes of identity and societal expectation ([04:49]–[06:00]).

5. Harlem in the Early 20th Century

• Harlem as epicenter of emerging Black pride, culture, and talent against the backdrop of ongoing segregation and violence elsewhere ([06:45]–[08:14]).

  “They have all of these achievements, but they’re still second-class citizens ... Harlem was this little corner of America where Black pride was growing while people were being lynched.” — Victoria Christopher Murray ([07:03])

6. The Crisis Magazine’s Role & Fauset’s Contribution

• 'The Crisis' was the most influential Black periodical of its day, both nationally and for Black and white audiences ([09:22]–[09:31]).
• Fauset made literary editing central, nurturing young voices like Langston Hughes—turning what Du Bois viewed as a side project into a genuine movement ([11:19]).

7. W.E.B. Du Bois: Mentor, Editor, Lover

• Du Bois’s stated goal: arm Black America with truthful reporting and foster an informed citizenry ([10:11]–[10:19]).
• His recruitment of Fauset had personal as well as professional motives; their five-year affair was an open secret ([10:17]–[11:34]).

  “The reason he brought Jessie ... had nothing to do with The Crisis. They were having an affair.” — Victoria Christopher Murray ([10:17])

8. Mentoring the Next Generation

• Fauset’s nurturing yet stringent editing style helped launch careers and support young writers through personal struggles ([15:17]–[16:19]).
• She was pivotal in making 'The Brownies’ Book' a nurturing platform for Black children ([16:23]–[17:17]).

9. Barriers as a Black Woman

• Even as an elite professional, Fauset had to repeatedly prove herself within the Black literary community, facing sexism from both white and Black colleagues ([17:28]–[18:43]).

10. Notable Readings & Moments

• Murray reads an excerpt: Fauset meets a young Countee Cullen after church, highlighting intersectional issues within even the Harlem literary elite ([12:22]–[15:04]).

  “This color boy will never touch her, not even in New York.” — Excerpt from Harlem Rhapsody ([14:00])

11. Victoria Christopher Murray on Writing

• Candid advice for aspiring writers:

  “Writers write. You cannot call yourself a writer if you’re not writing. ... Writers read. The best writers are readers.” — Victoria Christopher Murray ([20:22])

• On her career: lifelong passion for writing, embracing both challenges and changes in reception ([18:49]–[19:58]).

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “She was the midwife of the Harlem Renaissance.” — Victoria Christopher Murray describing Langston Hughes’s tribute to Fauset ([02:22])
• “I have no idea what they spoke about. … But I can extrapolate … that’s why I study the characters first.” — Victoria Christopher Murray on historical fiction process ([08:49])
• “She brought his vision to life for him, and she fell in love with it as well.” — On Fauset launching ‘The Brownies’ Book’ ([16:27])
• “You can never lose your cool. You can never … so that they could say, see, I knew she was a woman.” — On navigating sexism in the literary field ([18:14])
• “My first masterpiece [written at age 7] … you can if you plagiarize.” — Murray, humorously reflecting on her early writing ([18:57])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:09] – Introduction to Jessie Redmon Fauset & her legacy
• [02:22] – What drew Victoria Christopher Murray to Fauset
• [03:07] – Early research & the Du Bois connection
• [04:06] – Fauset’s teaching career and stepmother’s influence
• [06:45] – Harlem’s historical context and its contradictions
• [08:24] – Writing historical fiction: anchoring in fact
• [09:22] – The importance and influence of The Crisis magazine
• [10:11] – Du Bois’s goals and their complex professional/personal relationship
• [12:22] – Read-aloud: Fauset meets Countee Cullen
• [15:17] – Fauset’s nurturing of young writers
• [16:23] – The creation and impact of The Brownies’ Book
• [17:28] – Fauset’s challenges as a woman in publishing
• [18:49] – Murray’s own writing journey & advice for writers
• [20:22] – Concluding writing advice

Flow & Tone

The conversation is both erudite and engaging, with a lively, respectful exchange between Allison Stewart and Victoria Christopher Murray. Murray’s passion for both her subject and the craft of writing comes through vividly. Her research rigor and love for New York’s history is balanced with humor and empathy, especially when exploring the intricate realities of race, gender, and creative ambition in Fauset’s world.

For Listeners: Why This Episode Matters

This episode offers a rare window into the legacy of a foundational but overlooked cultural architect. Whether you’re interested in Black history, women’s impact in literature, the Harlem Renaissance, or the craft of historical fiction, the discussion offers inspiration, context, and new appreciation of Jessie Redmon Fauset—and those who fight to preserve her story.