When Broadway Was Black

The untold story of the musical that revolutionized Broadway—and the Black artists who made it unforgettable.

“This musical introduced Black excellence to the Great White Way. Broadway was forever changed and we, who stand on the shoulders of our brilliant ancestors, are charged with the very often elusive task of carrying that torch into our present.”—Billy Porter, Tony, Grammy, and Emmy Award-winning actor

“The 1920s were the years of Manhattan’s Black Renaissance. It began with Shuffle Along.” —Langston Hughes

Before Hamilton lit up the stage, Shuffle Along made history.

In When Broadway Was Black, cultural historian Caseen Gaines brings to life the 1921 musical that redefined American theater. Created by Noble Sissle, Eubie Blake, Flournoy Miller, and Aubrey Lyles, Shuffle Along shattered expectations with its syncopated rhythms, vibrant performances, and unapologetic celebration of Black life. It wasn’t just a hit—it was a cultural turning point that ignited the Harlem Renaissance and opened the door for performers like Josephine Baker and Paul Robeson.

This is a true story of ambition, artistry, and resilience—of four trailblazers who took the stage at a time when opportunity was anything but equal, and left a legacy that still resonates today.

For readers of The Warmth of Other Suns, Black Broadway, and Hamilton: The Revolution, this is essential reading for lovers of theater, American history, and Black cultural achievement.

Previously published as Footnotes: The Black Artists Who Rewrote the Rules of the Great White Way, this edition reintroduces a landmark moment in American culture with new urgency and insight.

Praise for When Broadway Was Black:

“A major contribution to culture.”—Brian Jay Jones, New York Times bestselling author of Jim Henson: The Biography

“With meticulous research and smooth storytelling, Caseen Gaines significantly deepens our understanding of one of the key cultural events that launched the Harlem Renaissance.”—A Lelia Bundles, New York Times bestselling author of On Her Own Ground: The Life and Times of Madam C.J. Walker

“Absorbing…”—The Wall Street Journal

Take your seat. The curtain is rising. This is history like you’ve never seen it before.

Author Biography

Author and journalist Caseen Gaines has written for Rolling Stone, Vanity Fair, and NY Mag. He holds an MA from Rutgers Uni in American Studies, focusing on racial representations in popular culture.