JEAN TOOMER:

The White African-American

Gannon Webb 11/14/13 Period: 4 Agriculture, the American College of Physical Training in Chicago, the University of Chicago, New York

Early Life:
In 1894, Jean Toomer was born in Washington, D.C. He was the son of a caucasian farmer, which allowed him to Jean Toomer in 1924

University, and the City College of New York. Although he attended all of these Colleges and Universities, Toomer never took a degree from any of them.

spend certain years of his life under the assumption that he was white. As he grew up, Toomer attended all-black schools; an exception being when he moved with his mother to New York, and ironically attended an all-white school. Eventually, he graduated from an academic all-black high school and went on to study extensively. After Toomer graduated, he renounced all of his racial ties, and decided to live as an American, not just a member of any one racial group. From 1914 to 1917 he attended six different academic institutions: the University of Wisconsin, the Massachusetts College of

Career:
In 1922, Toomer became the principal of a school in Sparta, Georgia. Sparta was a large influence on leaders of the Harlem Renaissance, and the town inspired him greatly. Soon after his arrival in Georgia, he found himself writing poems, stories, and sketches about African-Americans coming into conflict with Americans moral attitudes as a society. After beginning his writing career, Toomer moved to New York where he wrote his most famous piece of literature, the novel Cane. The novel was filled with many of the

stories and poems he had written in Sparta, all filled with thoughts on African-Americans and their placement in society. After the publication of Cane Toomer became somewhat of a celebrity, being hailed for his extraordinary work, even by white readers, as his book was not marketed as a black work due to his renouncement of racial ties in his early years. Toomer, at the time, was said to be as great as many of the great writers in the 1920s, including T.S. Eliot and Ernest Hemmingway.

Teachings in Harlem:
In 1925, Jean found himself following the teachings of George Gurdjieff, a man who had created a system of self-development through physical, mental, and emotional integration. Eventually, Jean started a group in Harlem, giving lectures on Gurdjieffs methods. These lectures often had quite important attendees; Harlem Renaissance stars, including: Langston Hughes, Dorothy Peterson, Dorothy West, Zora Hurtson, and others. Jean Toomer was an incredibly large driving force of the Harlem Renaissance. He inspired writers through his works, teachings, Jean scanning over his manuscripts and lectures. Without Jean Toomer, many famous Renaissance writers and artists may not have been influenced to write their inspiring works.

Most novices picture themselves as masters - and are content with the picture. This is why there are so few masters. -Jean Toomer