Richard Bruce Nugent´s Smoke Lilies and Jade

Seminar paper from the year 2006 in the subject American Studies - Literature grade: 13 Saarland University (Philosophische Fakultät II: Fachrichtung 4.3. :Anglistik Amerikanistik und Anglophone Kulturen) course: Proseminar Harlem Renaissance language: English abstract: Langston Hughes probably the most famous of all Harlem Renaissance writers played an very important role in Richard Bruce Nugent´s life especially in regard to his career as an artist. He introduced him to Harlem´s artistic circles; through Hughes Nugent made acquaintance with many contemporary luminaries was introduced to the movement´s elite (Wirth 4). Hughes amongst others an temporary inhabitant of Niggeratti manor and also directly involved in the creation of Fire!! made the following remark about the Niggeratti´s landmark publication (Wirth 15):None of the older Negro intellectuals would have anything to do with Fire [sic]. Dr. Du Bois in the Crisis roasted it. The negro press called it all sorts of bad names largely because of a green and purple story by Bruce Nugent in the Oscar Wilde tradition which we had included. (Wirth 83 emphasis added) Hughes quintessential statement about Fire!! clearly places the responsibility for the reception of the magazine on Nugent. But did Fire!!/Smoke Lilies and Jade really have such a negative impact on the black community? Is it due to the fact that Nugent´s short story stands in the Oscar Wilde tradition? In how far does it actually stand in the Oscar Wilde tradition? In order to fully comprehend the statement by Hughes these questions need to be answered. Thus I will point out the consequences of the publication of Fire!! with special regard to Nugent´s short story. In doing so I will arrange the paper starting from the quotation above.Hence I will first explain the components of the quote meaning to give an definition of the Oscar Wilde tradition as well as some background information and contextualizaing Fire!!; mo