Home to Harlem · Chapters
Chapters explained
Chapter companions for Home to Harlem by Claude McKay.
Chapter 1
Dedication
The book is dedicated to the author's friend, Louise Bryant.
Chapter 2
Home to Harlem
The chapter opens with Jake Brown returning to Harlem after a long absence, feeling a sense of homecoming. He encounters various characters and reconnects with the vibrant, chaotic life of the neighborhood, setting the stage for his subsequent adventures.
Chapter 3
First Part
The chapter introduces Jake Brown, a young black man in early 20th-century Harlem, and his circle of acquaintances. It depicts his daily life, his interactions with friends and lovers, and his restless search for stability and meaning. The narrative captures the vibrant but often harsh realities of Harlem life, including the struggles of labor, the complexities of relationships, and the constant presence of violence and displacement.
Chapter 4
I: Going Back Home
Jake Brown, a black American longshoreman who enlisted in World War I, is on a freighter heading back to Harlem after two years abroad. He reflects on his experiences in France and London, including his work as a docker in the East End, a race battle between black and white men, and his growing lonesomeness. He is disgusted by the conditions and the Arab crew on the ship, but his sole focus is returning to Harlem and the brown girls he longs for.
Chapter 5
II: Arrival
Jake Brown returns to Harlem after two years away, flush with cash from his pay-off. He revels in the vibrant streets, indulges in food and drink, and meets a brown girl at a cabaret. They spend the night together, and Jake spends nearly all his money on her. He wakes up penniless but content, finding a fifty-dollar note with a note from the girl, a gift that leaves him feeling like a prince.
Chapter 6
III: Zeddy
Jake Brown reunites with his old war buddy Zeddy Plummer in Harlem. They catch up over drinks at Uncle Doc's saloon, share memories of their time in Brest, and discuss the difficulties of returning home. Jake is preoccupied with the brown girl he met the previous night, and the two friends spend the day together, visiting a poolroom and Aunt Hattie's chitterling joint. Jake learns about work opportunities as a longshoreman and agrees to meet Zeddy again the next evening.
Chapter 7
IV: Congo Rose
Jake, disappointed after failing to find his honey girl at the Baltimore, goes to the Congo cabaret with Zeddy. There, he is captivated by the entertainer Congo Rose, who sings to him and eventually takes him home. Rose offers to keep him as her man, but Jake insists on working. The chapter also depicts the vibrant, raw atmosphere of the Congo and the violent altercation at the Baltimore.
Chapter 8
On the Job Again
Jake continues living with Congo Rose but remains haunted by the memory of the brown girl from the Baltimore. He works as a longshoreman, dividing his time between Rose, Uncle Doc's saloon, and Dixie Red's poolroom. Zeddy recruits him for a pineapple unloading job that turns out to be scab labor during a strike. Jake refuses to scab and confronts Zeddy about it. Later, at a buffet flat, a confrontation between Zeddy and Nije Gridley over a debt nearly turns deadly, but Jake intervenes.
Chapter 9
Myrtle Avenue
Zeddy, envious of Jake's success with women, attends a party at Gin-head Susy's apartment in Brooklyn. The party is filled with drinking, gambling, and tense interactions. Jake is disgusted by the coarseness of the women, particularly Miss Curdy, and reflects on his past experiences. A fight breaks out over a card game, and Jake decides to leave, thinking of the finer world revealed to him by the brown girl from the Baltimore.
Chapter 10
VII: Zeddy's Rise and Fall
Zeddy Plummer has become 'kept' by Gin-head Susy on Myrtle Avenue, a situation that initially seems enviable but quickly reveals its constraints. He chafes against Susy's proprietary jealousy and her prohibition on his Harlem nightlife, leading to tension and a power struggle. The chapter contrasts Zeddy's gilded cage with Jake's independence, and culminates in Zeddy's defiant return to the Congo cabaret with a new girl, where he attempts to assert his status as a 'sweetman' among his peers.
Chapter 11
VIII: The Raid of the Baltimore
The chapter details the indirect raid and subsequent padlocking of the Baltimore cabaret, a respected Harlem establishment rumored to be protected by Tammany Hall. The raid was orchestrated by undercover Vice Squad officers who posed as wealthy white patrons, gaining access to Madame Adeline Suarez's exclusive buffet flat through the Baltimore's boss. Jake, who had gained entry to this 'nifty' world through his association with Congo Rose, was present at the flat when the raid occurred. The chapter describes the atmosphere of the buffet flat, the jazz music, and the vibrant, elegant women, contrasting it with the harsh reality of the police action and the subsequent legal consequences, including fines, imprisonment for Madame Suarez, and the padlocking of the Baltimore.
Chapter 12
Jake Makes a Move
Jake returns home to find signs of a mysterious visitor, leading to tension with Congo Rose. After a violent altercation, Jake decides to leave Rose and packs his belongings, walking out with his suitcase.
Chapter 13
Second Part
The chapter opens with Jake Brown returning to Harlem after his time away. He reconnects with his old friend Zeddy, who is now being kept by Susy. Jake finds work as a longshoreman and moves in with Congo Rose, a woman he meets. The chapter depicts Jake's life in Harlem, his relationships, and his experiences with work and leisure.
Chapter 14
X: The Railroad
Jake Brown, now working as a third cook on a railroad dining car, seeks to escape Harlem's hold. During a quiet moment, he borrows money from a well-read waiter and discovers the man is Haitian. The waiter introduces Jake to the history of Haiti, Toussaint L’Ouverture, and the Haitian Revolution, expanding Jake's worldview about black history and culture. Jake also learns about Sappho and the term 'Lesbian,' challenging his Harlem-centric views.
Chapter 15
Snowstorm in Pittsburgh
Jake arrives in Pittsburgh with his railroad crew and is immediately struck by the soot-covered, industrial atmosphere of Wiley Avenue. He quickly meets a woman at a basement eating-joint and later reunites with Ray, the Haitian waiter he met earlier. They complain about the poor conditions of the railroad quarters, which are infested with bedbugs. Ray, deeply troubled by thoughts of race and his own identity as a black man from Haiti, struggles with insomnia and eventually takes the cocaine papers he finds in Jake's coat pocket, leading to a vivid, hallucinatory dream. Jake, meanwhile, socializes with other railroad men and encounters a light-yellow waiter who introduces them to a barrelhouse speakeasy, where they drink and encounter a 'hophead' named Happy.
Chapter 16
The Treeing of the Chef
This chapter focuses on the intense conflict between the dining-car's tyrannical chef and the waiters, particularly the pantryman. The chef, a model of efficiency but a hateful and repulsive man, rules through fear and abuse. A feud erupts when the fourth waiter, encouraged by Ray, stands up to the chef's bullying. The conflict escalates, with the chef using his power to humiliate the pantryman, who bides his time for revenge. The chapter also highlights the growing friendship between Jake and Ray, and Jake's silent indignation at the chef's treatment of his friend.
Chapter 17
One Night in Philly
Jake persuades a reluctant Ray to visit a house in North Philadelphia run by Madame Laura. Ray is initially struck by the warm, comfortable atmosphere, but becomes disgusted when he sees Laura's young son present. The evening is interrupted by a police raid, and afterward Jake and Ray discuss the differences between white and Black establishments, with Jake promising to show Ray a better time in New York.
Chapter 18
Interlude
Jake, ill and recovering in Harlem, reflects on his restless life and the comfort of home. He ignores the doctor's advice, drinking beer, and engages in a philosophical debate with Ray about living freely versus heeding health warnings. Later, he ventures out to Uncle Doc's, where he meets Billy Biasse and drinks heavily, leading to a severe pain attack. He is taken home, and his landlady, who had neglected him, realizes a misfortune has befallen him.
Chapter 19
XV: Relapse
Jake suffers a relapse due to excessive drinking, prompting a visit from a doctor and concern from Ray. The landlady criticizes the younger generation's lack of religion. Ray encourages Jake to move to a better room and reflects on his own literary aspirations and the changing world.
Chapter 20
XVI: A Practical Prank
Jake, recovering from illness, plays a prank on Madame Laura by giving her Congo Rose's address. When Madame Laura visits, Rose claims Jake as her man, leading to a confrontation. Meanwhile, Ray introduces his friend James Grant, and a philosophical debate about parasitism, race, and civilization ensues.
Chapter 21
He Also Loved
In the winter of 1916, Jake Brown, broke and new to New York, finds lodging with Ma Lawton and work at a saloon. He befriends Jerco and Rosalind, a couple living in the same building. When Rosalind falls gravely ill, Jerco pawns his belongings to pay for a doctor, but her condition worsens. The chapter explores themes of love, sacrifice, and the complexities of race and identity in Harlem.
Chapter 22
A Farewell Feed
Ray and Grant prepare to leave Harlem for a freighter job heading to Australia and Europe. Ray reflects on his dissatisfaction with railroad life and his fear of settling down in Harlem. Jake hosts a farewell dinner at Aunt Hattie's cookshop, paid for by Billy Biasse. The group shares a meal, drinks, and conversation about education, friendship, and the future. After the dinner, they go to Uncle Doc's and Leroy's Cabaret. The next afternoon, Ray leaves on the freighter as a mess boy.
Chapter 23
Third Part
The chapter opens with Jake in a hospital bed, recovering from a severe illness. He reflects on his past, including his time with Congo Rose and his work on the railroad. He is visited by Madame Laura, who brings news and a sense of connection to his past. Later, Jake reunites with Felice, and they share a moment of connection and understanding. The chapter also follows Ray, who decides to leave for the sea, seeking a new direction in life. The narrative weaves together themes of recovery, reflection, and the search for belonging.
Chapter 24
Spring in Harlem
In this chapter, Jake Brown wanders through Harlem on a beautiful spring day, reflecting on love, desire, and his past. He witnesses a violent altercation involving Yaller Prince, a known sweetman, and reflects on the pervasive violence and tension in Harlem. The chapter also explores Jake's observations on fashion, race, and the social dynamics of the neighborhood, ending with a sense of disillusionment and a desire for escape.
Chapter 25
XX: Felice
Jake and Felice reunite after their first meeting at the Sheba Palace. They walk through Harlem, discussing where Felice has been and her work in Palm Beach. Jake takes her to his room, and they plan to be together. Felice goes to retrieve her belongings, and Jake waits for her. The chapter includes Felice's recollection of a violent fight between two West Indian women over a man, and ends with Felice returning to Jake's room with her things.
Chapter 26
The Gift That Billy Gave
Jake and Felice celebrate Saturday night by dining at the Nile Queen and watching a movie from the 'nigger heaven' of a Broadway theater. They then visit a new, fashionable Jewish-owned cabaret in Harlem, which is drawing both Black and white crowds. They meet Billy Biasse, who buys them champagne, and the second cook from the railroad, who tells them Ray has left for the sea. After a tense moment when Zeddy appears and apologizes for his earlier threats, Jake and Felice decide to leave Harlem for Chicago. They pack their things and go to the Baltimore, which has reopened after being padlocked.
Chapter 27
Endnotes
The endnotes section provides a brief explanatory note about a character nickname on the railroad, clarifying that the fourth waiter is called 'mule' because he works under the orders of the pantryman.
