SOURCE: "Rudolph Fisher: An Evaluation," in Crisis, Vol. 78, No. 5, July 1971, pp. 149-54.

In the following essay, Henry argues that Fisher's literary merits should be judged by his short stories, which show a keen attention to race and class consciousness.

Class consciousness is perhaps the single most consistent theme found in Fisher's work. He was extremely aware of the class and color distinctions present in the black community, especially the Harlem community, the locale of most of his stories. And almost the entire body of his material deals with the interaction of the various social types and groups present in that community. What makes Fisher so appealing is that he writes about black people in a manner which expresses their kinship with other peoples. He underscores and highlights the fundamental human condition of black Americans. And, through a close observation of their pursuits and concerns, shows that black men...