Hunting in Harlem by Mat Johnson
"Hunting in Harlem" by Mat Johnson is a novel that intertwines elements of thriller, social commentary, and morality, focusing on the themes of urban renewal and gentrification from an African American viewpoint. The narrative follows three former convicts—Bobby, Snowden, and Horus—who are selected for a program called Second Chance, aimed at restoring Harlem's historic brownstones. However, as they undertake their duties, they uncover a dark undercurrent to the revitalization efforts: the systematic removal of local residents deemed "undesirable" to make way for wealthier newcomers. This unsettling realization prompts Snowden to grapple with ethical dilemmas, highlighting his personal struggles and moral ambiguity.
The characters in the novel are richly developed, with Snowden serving as the primary lens through which the story unfolds. He embodies a conflicted individual driven by survival rather than strong convictions, while other key figures, such as the ambitious Cyrus Marks and the insightful journalist Piper Goines, further complicate the moral landscape. Despite facing criticism for its depictions of African Americans and the portrayal of violence, the novel has been praised for its sharp wit and psychological depth. Ultimately, "Hunting in Harlem" serves as both a cautionary tale and a reflection on the complexities of community, identity, and change in contemporary urban America.
Hunting in Harlem by Mat Johnson
First published: 2003
Type of work: Novel
Type of plot: Satire
Time of work: Late 1990’s
Locale: Harlem, New York
Principal Characters:
Cyrus Marks , a short, heavy, African American former parole officer and former congressman who is the founder of Horizon Realty and its Second Chance program, which employs former convictsLester Baines , an African American former convict and natty dresser who is always accompanied by his mangy mutt Wendell and is the manager of operations for Second ChanceRobert M. (Bobby) Finley , a tall, skinny, chocolate-colored aspiring novelist and convicted arsonist from Maryland who is hired by Second ChanceCedric “Snowman” Snowden , a handsome African American from Philadelphia who as a teen was convicted of manslaughter for accidentally killing his father and who is employed by Second ChanceHorus Manley , a muscular, thuggish African American from Chicago with a long record of violent criminal behavior who is the third former convict hired by Second ChancePiper Goines , a large, attractive, African American woman who is an investigative reporter for theNew Holland Herald
The Novel
Part thriller, part social commentary, part morality study, Hunting in Harlem is at heart a hard-edged satirical and cautionary tale about the potential dangers of urban renewal and gentrification from an African American perspective. Under the aegis of former congressman and parole officer Cyrus Marks, three former convicts—Bobby, Snowden, and Horus—have been handpicked as interns for Second Chance, a program run by Horizon Realty. This competitive one-year program ostensibly helps rebuild men’s lives as they help restore the architecturally grand brownstones of Harlem, particularly those in the Mount Morris Historic District, to their former glory. The ultimate goal, the men are told, is to create a second cultural renaissance like that experienced in the 1920’s and 1930’s, when African American literature, art, and music flourished in Harlem. Toward this end, the former convicts are instructed to clean out vacated premises and assist new buyers in moving into renovated homes. The intern who most impresses management as a potential real estate agent will not only be given his own brownstone but also be chosen to oversee Second Chance in the future.
As the three men go about their duties, Snowden notices a sinister aspect of the renaissance plan. A key component of the program is replacing “undesirables”—drug dealers, gang members, welfare recipients, pimps, pedophiles, and other such “lowlifes”—with upscale, professional people. Coincidentally, the lowlifes of Harlem seem to be falling victim to fatal accidents in numbers that defy actuarial tables. With a tragic plunge down a staircase or a hit-and-run accident, the resident of a choice property is suddenly eliminated, and the property becomes available for purchase, remodeling, and resale at enormous profits. Snowden mentions this strange phenomenon to reporter Piper Goines, with whom he has a brief affair after moving her into a new residence, and she writes an article about it for her local rag of a newspaper, though it initially receives little attention.
Over time, the three former convicts are called upon to take a more active role in removing specific targets. How each Second Chance recruit reacts to this troubling development forms the core of Hunting in Harlem, giving the novel considerable depth, complexity, and resonance.
The Characters
While the major and minor characters in Hunting in Harlem are all well drawn, fully rounded, and believable, four in particular stand out. The primary protagonist and narrative filter is Snowden, the son of an abusive and militant civil rights advocate whom he killed in a fit of anger. Now grown into a nonconfrontational Everyman of few strong convictions beyond his own survival, Snowden believes in nothing and has no real moral center, so he is ripe for manipulation. When faced with tough choices, Snowden retreats into drink, sleeps, or takes refuge in a closet, justifying his inactivity while chain-smoking different brands of cigarettes: He has so little backbone, he cannot even decide which brand to favor.
Cyrus Marks is emblematic of the fanatic so absorbed by the righteousness of his cause—in this case, the rejuvenation of a neighborhood that once symbolized African American potential—that the concept of ethics has lost all meaning for him. To Marks, the battle for civil rights is over, and, rather than white oppression or racism, the true enemies of contemporary African Americans are themselves. He and his henchman, Lester Baines, will resort to anything in their pursuit of an ideal community.
Piper Goines represents feminism, sexuality, and intellectualism. She also provides a rational, skeptical base against which to measure the growing insanity of the Second Chance program. Originally attracted to Snowden, she is later captivated with Bobby and, as a fellow writer, is the only one to read and fully appreciate the budding novelist’s first published book, The Great Work.
Perhaps the most interesting character in Hunting in Harlem is Bobby Finley. A sensitive writer who provides a stark contrast to the brutish Horus, Bobby perceives in Piper a kindred spirit, and he forgives the reporter for her liaison with Snowden. Though Bobby, too, acquiesces to Marks’s methods of eliminating undesirables from the neighborhood, he alone of all the principals exhibits a conscience.
Critical Context
Hunting in Harlem is Mat Johnson’s second novel, following the publication of his well-received debut, Drop, in 2000. The novel was inspired by the author’s sojourn in Harlem while attending the master of fine arts program at Columbia University. While there, Johnson studied the history of Harlem and witnessed at first hand both the deterioration of the area and efforts to revitalize it.
The novel has experienced some backlash as a result of its unfavorable depictions of African Americans. A handful of critics have denigrated Hunting in Harlem as updated “ghetto” literature, also known as black pulp fiction. They assert that the novel glorifies urban violence and crime in the tradition of earlier writers such as Chester Himes, Iceberg Slim (Robert Beck), and Donald Goines—the character Piper Goines is an homage to that late author. A few New York bookstores have removed Johnson’s work from their shelves, citing its negative influence upon rappers and hip-hop artists, who tend to focus on the brisk action of the stories at the expense of their underlying issues. Most critics, however, have praised Johnson’s keen wit, dark humor, insight into human psychology, and ear for realistic “street” dialogue. The book won the 2004 Hurston-Wright Legacy Award for fiction.
Undeterred by criticism, Johnson followed the novel with other controversial works dealing with the African American experience, including a historical fiction novel, The Great Negro Plot: A Tale of Murder and Conspiracy in Eighteenth-Century New York (2007), an issue of the comic book Hellblazer featuring the vengeful black character “Papa Midnite,” and a graphic mystery novel investigating lynching, Incognegro (2008). Recognized as a dynamic, talented, fresh voice in African American literature, Johnson works to influence a new generation of authors: He has taught creative writing at Bard College and at the University of Houston.
Bibliography
Bush, Vanessa. Review of Hunting in Harlem, by Mat Johnson. Booklist 99, no. 17 (May 1, 2003): 1579. This starred review praises the author for his keen insight into contemporary issues, for his realistic characters and tense plot, and for his sense of humor.
Higgins, Nathan Irvin. Voices from the Harlem Renaissance. New York: Oxford University Press, 1995. This study of the original Harlem Renaissance provides a cultural backdrop and references many of the early figures mentioned in Johnson’s novel.
Kirkus Reviews. Review of Hunting in Harlem, by Mat Johnson. 71, no. 4 (February 15, 2003): 257. Notes the author’s skillful use of Harlem history but criticizes an unfocused narrative and credulity-straining plot line.
Scruggs, Charles. Sweet Home: Invisible Cities in the African American Novel. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1993. Study of the black urban experience as a driving force behind the modern African American novel.