The Theory of Belonging
100 years ago, Langston Hughes arrived as a fresh transplant from his home in Joplin, Missouri. He was part of a larger movement of African Americans who left the rural world behind. Landing in the city, more specifically, a neighborhood called Harlem.
Hughes, and many others like him, migrated to Harlem because a vibrant community was exploding. The Harlem Renaissance was in full swing. And Hughes was one of the key players behind it.
Artists like Hurston and McKay embraced him and supported him at every step. Here in Harlem, he expressed his creativity freely, becoming known as one of the most important poets of the 20th century.
Hughes’ poetry captured the essence of the Harlem Renaissance. His poem "I, Too, Sing America" spoke boldly of equality and pride in being a black man. It resonated deeply with the community in Harlem. His words became a voice for their shared past and collective aspirations.
The fight for racial equality loomed large. Hughes and his peers used their art as a weapon for social justice. His poetry reflected their pain, joy, and resilience. It fueled the spirit of the Renaissance.
More than just a writer, Hughes was a mentor, an influencer, an advocate for younger Black artists. He elevated marginalized voices, and over time grew the Harlem Renaissance to become what we know it to be today. He led the movement, but he belonged to it too.
Spinks' Theory of Belonging
Hughes' story got me thinking of a book I read a few months back.
Author and community builder, David Spinks," has become widely known for his book "The Business of Belonging." In it, Spinks’ posits that a sense of community or what I refer to here as a "Theory of Belonging" has 4 key parts to it:
Membership
Influence
Integration & Rewards
Shared Emotional Connection
When put together, you feel like you belong to something.
You need to be a member. This means there’s boundaries. Some people are in, others are out. Additionally, members identify together as such. They often have shared symbols and they’re invested in one another’s flourishing.
Those who give gain influence. Those who take do not. The more you contribute to a community, the more influence you garner. Founders who don’t give real value end up losing influence in that member’s life.
Members don’t join communities unless that community is providing something for them. Members need rewards in order to stick around. Extrinsic rewards are great, but intrinsic are even better.
Every healthy community has a shared story. No engagement = no story. Stories are the fabric that bind people together.
For Hughes and countless others from the Harlem Renaissance, Spinks’ theory was accurate back then. Those in the movement knew why they moved to Harlem, they knew arts = influence, they felt like they were redeeming their story and making a new one. This is a powerful mixture that led not only to a community, but a movement.
The same factors remain true to this day.
Communities that are struggling to take off are often missing out on one or multiple of the aspects above. Some action steps for the pragmatic ones looking for what to do with this:
Clarify your ICP - reiterate what it means to be a member often.
Study your ICP - what do they want, really? What kind of value can you wow them with?
Reward your ICP - shout out why you’re proud of your top contributors and help them feel seen.
Talk about your ICP publicly - This one’s pretty simple: tell everyone why what your community is doing matters.
