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Harlem Renaissance Celebrated in Sundance Documentary Premiere

2/4/2026

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Summary

Story summary

The documentary Once Upon a Time in Harlem, directed by William Greaves, premiered at Sundance.
It foregrounds Black creativity during the Harlem Renaissance and features discussions among influential Black artists.
The film spotlights Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston and explores debates about terminology.
It also emphasizes libraries as vital spaces to gather and preserve Black writers’ history, underscoring resistance to erasure.

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Story summary

The documentary Once Upon a Time in Harlem, directed by William Greaves, premiered at Sundance.
It foregrounds Black creativity during the Harlem Renaissance and features discussions among influential Black artists.
The film spotlights Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston and explores debates about terminology.
It also emphasizes libraries as vital spaces to gather and preserve Black writers’ history, underscoring resistance to erasure.