Mae V. Cowdery

Mae V. Cowdery (1909–1948) was a gifted poet of the Harlem Renaissance whose work explored racial pride, love, and sensuality with unusual candor for her era. Born in Philadelphia, she began publishing poetry while still a student at the Philadelphia High School for Girls, earning early recognition in The Crisis and Black Opals.

After moving to New York to study at Pratt Institute, Cowdery became part of the creative circles of Harlem and Greenwich Village, where she developed friendships with writers like Langston Hughes, who encouraged her work. In 1936, she published her only collection, We Lift Our Voices and Other Poems, a volume that revealed her bold, lyrical voice and commitment to telling Black life honestly.

Though her work faded from public view after her death, Mae V. Cowdery’s poetry remains an important part of Harlem Renaissance history and a powerful reminder of the Black women whose voices helped shape American literature.