Flamboyants: The Queer Harlem Renaissance I Wish I’d Known. George M. Johnson. 2024. Farrar, Straus and Giroux. 127 pages. [Source: Public library.] The Harlem Renaissance was a remarkable period in American history, but was pivotal within Black America. The “New Negro Movement” launched the careers of countless scholars, photographers, musicians, and dancers and ushered in a rebirth of racial pride and solidarity, in addition to leaving a treasure trove of art reflecting this new attitude. While many of the central figures’ names are easily recalled, the fullness of their identities is not always centered in conversations about their impact. Indeed, the fact that many of these artists were queer was often ignored or outright hidden while they navigated the social mores of the time. It is only more recently that some of these figures have shifted from being symbols only in relation to the Harlem Renaissance to being recognized also members of the LGBTQ/queer community. With Flamboyants, George M. Johnson shines a light on twelve prominent — and queer — figures within the Harlem Renaissance and explores their lives and legacies in a series of essays. The majority of those featured are well-known for their association with the movement, regardless…