After funding for an organization active in the late 1940s called "The Committee for the Negro in the Arts" ended, these writers felt excluded from the mainstream literary culture of New York City.
Setelah pendirian organisasi aktif pada akhir dasawarsa 1940-an dengan nama "The Committee for the Negro in the Arts" berakhir, para penulis ini merasa dikecualikan dari kultur sastra arus utama di New York City.