Following a “land acknowledgment” to the Choctaw and Chickasaw and other native peoples, “the original stewards of this land,” Brian Kwoba then shouted out the ancestors “who made it possible for us to be here” at what was sure to be a one-of-a-kind book release at Novel bookstore in Memphis.
Kwoba, associate professor and head of the African American Studies program at the University of Memphis, has written and released a new book uncovering the life and legacy of Hubert Henry Harrison, a largely forgotten figure in African American and socialist history. The intellectual biography “Hubert Harrison: Forbidden Genius of Black Radicalism” aims to introduce Harrison’s multifaceted activism to today’s society, which is currently navigating ongoing struggles related to race, class, sexual orientation and political power.
A man of American, British and Kenyan descent, Kwoba addressed a 60-plus person, diverse crowd at his recent book-signing at Novel. He described Harrison as a “radical intellectual” whose contributions to Black thought and political organizing in the early 20th century have been largely erased from mainstream historical narratives.
“He was one of the most important Black thinkers of the 20th century, yet many people have never heard of him,” said Kwoba.
In the book, the author explores just why that is.
“Who you criticize can bring down consequences on you,” said Kwoba.
Who did Harrison criticize? Kwoba’s new book reveals this and more (but there are hints if you read on).
Connecting Kwoba and Harrison
Kwoba credits archivist and historian, Jeffrey B. Perry, as the one who introduced him to Harrison. As Kwoba began to learn more about him, he realized how much his life paralleled Harrison’s, given their penchant for activism, socialism and overall radicalism. That made Kwoba want to delve further into Harrison’s erasure from historical context.
“I feel like I’ve had a walk with Harrison,” said Kwoba.
In the book, Kwoba shares that Hubert Harrison was born in 1883 on St. Croix, an island in the Danish West Indies (now the U.S. Virgin Islands). Orphaned as a teenager, Harrison moved to Harlem, where he became deeply involved in political, intellectual and cultural movements during what would later be known as the Harlem Renaissance.
Harrison’s work spanned issues including racial justice, socialism, labor organizing, secularism and reproductive rights. He founded the Colored Socialist Club in Harlem, the first Black-led socialist organization in the United States, and was involved in the 1913 silk workers’ strike in New Jersey. He also formed the Liberty League of Negro Americans in 1917, which advocated for civil rights, economic justice and anti-lynching legislation.
But through the Q&A portion of the event, hosted by Charles McKinney, associate professor of history and head of the Africana Studies program at Rhodes College, we learned why Harrison has been largely excluded from popular historical accounts. Kwoba attributed this erasure in part to Harrison’s critical stance toward powerful individuals and institutions, including leaders within the Black community, although he was a prolific writer, speaker and organizer.
“He wasn’t afraid to challenge Booker T. Washington, Marcus Garvey or the Socialist Party itself,” Kwoba said. “That made him difficult to institutionalize, and as a result, easier to forget.”
Harrison was also known for his controversial positions on religion and sexuality. He was an agnostic and active participant in the Free Thought movement, advocating for a strict separation of church and state. His public support for “free love” and critique of monogamy also set him apart from many of his contemporaries.
A multidimensional legacy
Kwoba’s biography draws on 12 years of research and engagement with Harrison’s archives, which are housed at Columbia University. The book builds on the earlier work of historian Jeffrey B. Perry, who published a two-volume biography of Harrison totaling more than 1,200 pages (Perry, 2009; 2021). In contrast, Kwoba’s 328-page volume is intended to be more accessible, thematic and connected to contemporary movements.
According to Kwoba, Harrison offers a useful framework for understanding the intersectionality of struggles against racism, capitalism, colonialism and patriarchy. His vision of a global “Colored International,” an alliance among colonized peoples, remains relevant in today’s geopolitical context.
While Harrison’s work was based in Harlem, Kwoba noted that his ideas resonate in cities like Memphis, which also experienced a cultural and political renaissance in the early 20th century. He emphasized the need to situate Harrison within a broader national and international frame, not just as a Harlem-based figure.
“Places like Memphis, Tulsa, Durham and Chicago also had rich Black intellectual and cultural life,” Kwoba said. “Harlem wasn’t the only epicenter.”
Harrison’s life also raises questions about institutional politics. Although he valued collective organizing, he frequently found himself at odds with formal institutions. His political activism led to job loss, strained personal relationships and limited recognition during his lifetime.
He died in 1927 at the age of 44, following complications from appendicitis surgery. According to family members, the circumstances of his death were suspicious; the surgeon reportedly died by suicide shortly thereafter.
Educational and activist applications
Kwoba encourages students and community members to engage with Harrison’s ideas not just as historical artifacts, but as tools for understanding and transforming the present.
“I never liked history,” Kwoba admitted. “But when I became an activist during the Iraq War, I realized that history is essential if we want to understand the systems we’re trying to change.”
He argues that Harrison’s legacy offers a model of the “organic intellectual,” a thinker rooted in the lived experiences of working-class Black people. Before becoming an activist, Harrison worked a variety of jobs in New York City, including elevator operator and postal worker. His dismissal from the postal service stemmed from his public critique of Booker T. Washington, a prominent Black leader of the time.
Kwoba believes Harrison’s humility and commitment to grassroots education are particularly valuable today.
“Harrison believed wisdom can come from many directions — not just schools or institutions, but also from marketplaces, social movements and everyday people,” he said.
As debates over curriculum, public memory and historical erasure continue across the U.S., Kwoba’s book arrives at a critical moment. He hopes it will serve both as a scholarly resource and a catalyst for broader conversations.
“There’s no single leader who will take us to the promised land,” Kwoba said. “We need collective leadership and radical imagination, just like Harrison called for.”
Learn more at: briankwoba.com
