Harlem is and always has been more than just a neighborhood. Exploring the community’s rich literary heritage, this program focuses on the work of two Harlem-based poets: Langston Hughes, one of the most soulful and jazz-influenced of all of Harlem’s voices, and the equally gifted Claude McKay, who employed a more traditional but no less powerful means of describing his environment. Voice-over readings bring to life several memorable works, including Hughes’s “The Weary Blues,” “Trumpet Player,” and “Harlem Night Song,” as well as McKay’s “Dawn in New York,” “Joy in the Woods,” and “The White City.” Featured commentators include Arnold Rampersad, author of the two-volume Life of Langston Hughes; Dr. Farah Griffin, professor of English, comparative literature, and African-American studies at Columbia University; Tia Fuller, renowned jazz saxophonist; and others. Produced by the Open University. (28 minutes)