Tambourines to Glory - Langston Hughes

Summary

Tambourines to Glory by Langston Hughes is a satirical novel that follows the audacious adventures of Sister Essie Belle Johnson and Brother Reverendizer "Reverend" B. J. Meadows, two charismatic and unscrupulous individuals who team up to establish a fraudulent storefront church in Harlem. Their "Tambourine Temple" becomes a lucrative enterprise built on the fervent faith and hard-earned meager savings of their poor, mostly black, congregation. The novel chronicles their elaborate deceptions, their internal conflicts fueled by greed and personal rivalry, and the ironic justice that eventually befalls them, exposing the hypocrisy and exploitation hiding beneath a veneer of piety.

Book Sections

Section 1

The story begins with the introduction of Sister Essie Belle Johnson, a large, boisterous, and musically gifted woman with a powerful voice and an even more powerful ambition for personal gain. She encounters Brother Reverendizer B. J. Meadows, a smooth-talking, opportunistic preacher who recognizes Essie Belle's potential for attracting a crowd and, more importantly, their money. Together, they hatch a plan to open a church, not for spiritual salvation, but for financial profit. They see an untapped market in the religious fervor of Harlem's working-class community. Their initial interactions are a blend of mutual respect for each other's cunning and a simmering distrust regarding the division of future spoils.

Conclusion

The conclusion of the novel sees the intricate web of deceit spun by Essie Belle and Reverend B. J. Meadows begin to unravel. Their greed escalates, leading to heightened arguments and mistrust between them. Sister Essie Belle's jealousy over Reverend B.J.'s flirtations with other women, coupled with the pressure of maintaining their lavish lifestyle, fuels the conflict. The turning point often involves a public exposure or a dramatic confrontation, forcing them to face the consequences of their exploitation. In a typical Hughesian ironic twist, their downfall is often self-inflicted, a result of their own moral corruption rather than external justice, though a faithful member of the congregation or another rival may play a role in their undoing. The "Tambourine Temple" ultimately collapses, leaving Essie Belle and Reverend B. J. Meadows stripped of their false glory and often facing a return to their previous, less opulent, circumstances, signifying the ephemeral nature of ill-gotten gains.

Literary Genre

Satirical Novel, Social Commentary, Comedy of Manners, Harlem Renaissance Literature.

Author Facts

• James Mercer Langston Hughes (1902–1967) was an American poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist from Joplin, Missouri.
• He is one of the earliest innovators of the literary art form called jazz poetry.
• Hughes is best known for his work during the Harlem Renaissance, a movement in the 1920s that celebrated African American culture and art.
• His writing often focused on the lives of working-class black Americans, depicting their joys, struggles, and culture in a realistic and empathetic manner, often using vernacular speech.
• He published numerous collections of poetry, novels, short stories, essays, and plays, making him a prolific and central figure in American literature.

Moral of the Story

The primary moral of Tambourines to Glory is a stark warning against hypocrisy and the exploitation of faith for personal gain. It exposes how easily vulnerable people, especially those struggling with poverty and seeking solace, can be manipulated by charismatic figures who use religion as a shield for their avarice. The novel critiques the corruption that can fester within religious institutions when led by individuals lacking true spiritual conviction, ultimately suggesting that ill-gotten wealth and glory derived from deceit are fleeting and lead to inevitable downfall. It also touches on themes of human greed, moral compromise, and the search for authentic spirituality versus performative piety.

Curiosities

• Tambourines to Glory was originally conceived by Langston Hughes as a musical play. Its musical roots are evident in the novel's vibrant language, rhythmic dialogues, and the central role of music (gospel, blues) in the church services.
• The novel features characters and scenarios that reflect Hughes's keen observations of Harlem life, including the storefront church phenomenon, which was a significant part of the community's social and spiritual landscape during the mid-20th century.
• While not as widely celebrated as his poetry or other novels like Not Without Laughter, Tambourines to Glory offers a sharp, humorous, and critical look at social issues that Hughes often addressed in his work, such as the intersection of poverty, religion, and human ambition within the African American community.
• The character of Sister Essie Belle Johnson, with her larger-than-life personality and powerful singing voice, is a memorable creation that embodies both the vitality and the potential for moral corruption within the community Hughes often depicted.