Although the black poet Melvin B. Tolson is recognized and respected by other poets and critics, he is unknown both to students and to the general reading public. This paper points out that the key to understanding Tolson's poetry, and much of the poetry coming out of black America, is his use of language. The paper examines one of Tolson's major works, "Harlem Gallery," as a way of introducing Tolson to a wider audience. The brief summary of the poem and a detailed examination of its language and imagery in the context of black street-language games reveal that Tolson's creativity is a fusion of Western thought, white ideals, and black idiom. His work is a synthesis of history, culture, personality, soil, time, and integrity. (BL)