Harold Cruse
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Harold Wright Cruse (March 8, 1916-March 30, 2005) was an outspoken social critic and teacher of African-American studies at the University of Michigan until the mid-1980s. His most recognized work is The Crisis of the Negro Intellectual, which was published in the mid-1960s. One of the resounding themes in Crisis was, as Christopher Lasch put it, that intellectuals must play a central role in movements for radical change." This theme re-appeared in his other works which include Rebellion or Revolution (a compilation of essays) and Plural But Equal (where Crisis of the Negro Intellectual dealt with the cultural axis of the politics-economics-culture triangle, Plural But Equal dealt more with politics and economics).
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[edit] Post-war
After returning home Cruse attended the City College of New York, however he never graduated. In 1947 he joined the Communist party briefly. In the mid-1960s Cruse, along with LeRoi Jones (now Amiri Baraka), founded the Black Arts Theater in Harlem. Cruse viewed the arts scene as a white-dominated misrepresentation of black culture, epitomized by George Gershwin's folk opera Porgy and Bess and Lorraine Hansberry's play A Raisin in the Sun. He was against integration, stating "Integrate with whom?"; instead, he proposed that blacks must form their own separate political, economic and cultural base—with cultural production being central.
[edit] Early life
Harold Cruse was born in Virginia in the city of Petersburg. His father was a railway caretaker and at a young age Cruse moved to New York City, New York after his parents divorced. He went to high school in New York City, and after graduating joined the army in Europe to serve during World War II. Once finishing his service, Cruse went back to New York and attended a city college, but never graduated. Rather than finishing college, Cruse self educated himself and became a member of the Communist Party.
[edit] Theatre life
He was a man who was very interested in the Theatre and Arts and wrote plays. He became interested in the Arts because as a young man, he had an aunt who often took him to shows on the weekends that were being showed. Cruse became a co-founder of the Black Arts Theatre and School, which was located in Harlem.
[edit] Writings
Harold’s writing was frequently written about the relationship between African Americans and the Jewish community. His writings were also seen when he was a writer for the Daily Worker Newspaper. Much of his work can be seen in books and magazine articles all trying to concentrate on African American identity.
[edit] Career
After giving a lecture at the University of Michigan in 1968, Cruse began teaching an African-American Studies program there. He is known for becoming one of the first African-American professors without holding a college degree. Cruse also helped establish the University's Center for Afro-American and African Studies. He retired from teaching in the 1980s.
[edit] Death
On March 25, 2005, Cruse died from congestive heart failure while living in an assisted-living facility in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He was survived by his wife of 36 years, Mara Julius.
[edit] List of works
- Rebellion or Revolution?
- The Crisis of the Negro Intellectual
- Plural but Equal: A Critical Study of Blacks and Minorities and America's Plural Society
- The Essential Harold Cruse: A Reader edited by William Jelani Cobb with a foreword by Stanley Crouch.
