Rudolph Fisher

Rudolph Fisher (1897–1934) was an American writer and physician, a key figure of the Harlem Renaissance. Born in Washington, D.C., and raised in Providence, Rhode Island, he studied at Brown University and Howard University Medical School, later practicing radiology in New York. Fisher began publishing short stories in the mid-1920s, earning acclaim for his sharp wit and keen observation of Harlem's social dynamics. His first novel, The Walls of Jericho (1928), satirizes the color line within Black society, while his second, The Conjure-Man Dies (1932), is considered one of the first detective novels by an African American. Fisher's work is noted for its linguistic play, authentic dialogue, and nuanced portrayal of class and culture. He died in 1934 at age 37, leaving a lasting influence on African American literature.