An Evening with A'Lelia Bundles

Gain a deeper understanding of one of the Harlem Renaissance’s most influential yet often overlooked figures during an evening of conversation and historical insight. This literary event features author and journalist A’Lelia Bundles as she shares from her latest biography Joy Goddess: A’Lelia Walker and the Harlem Renaissance.

Held at Books & Books on Wednesday, August 20, the program highlights the life of A’Lelia Walker, daughter of entrepreneur Madam C.J. Walker and a prominent figure in 1920s Black cultural circles. Dubbed the “joy goddess of Harlem’s 1920s” by Langston Hughes, Walker was known for her elaborate gatherings and her role as a patron of artists and thinkers including Zora Neale Hurston, W.E.B. DuBois and Florence Mills. In this new biography, Bundles—Walker’s great-granddaughter—draws from personal letters and extensive research to present a nuanced portrait of a woman balancing personal identity, public life and inherited legacy.

Admission is free, and copies of the book will be available for purchase at the event.