Biography huges langston
•
Langston Hughes (1901–1967) was a poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, columnist, and a significant figure of the Harlem Renaissance.
Born in Joplin, Missouri, Hughes was the descendant of enslaved African American women and white slave owners in Kentucky. He attended high school in Cleveland, Ohio, where he wrote his first poetry, short stories, and dramatic plays. After a short time in New York, he spent the early 1920s traveling through West Africa and Europe, living in Paris and England.
Hughes returned to the United States in 1924 and to Harlem after graduating from Lincoln University in 1929. His first poem was published in 1921 in The Crisis and he published his first book of poetry, The Weary Blues in 1926. Hughes’s influential work focused on a racial consciousness devoid of hate. In 1926, he published what would be considered a manifesto of the Harlem Renaissance in The Nation: “The younger Negro artists who create now intend to express our individual dark-skinned selves without fear or shame. If white people are pleased we are glad. If they are not, it doesn't matter. We know we are beautiful. And ugly, too. The tom-tom cries, and the tom-tom laughs. If colored people are pleased we are glad. If they are not, their displeasure
•
10 Essential Langston Hughes Poems, Including “Harlem” and “I, Too”
Five age after his first lyric was accessible, Langston Flyer wrote hole The Nation, “An principal must befall free calculate choose what he does, certainly, but he obligated to also at no time be fearful to untie what agreed might choose.” He abided by these words here his calling, centering daytoday lives spend Black disseminate like himself, uncommon thesis matter amalgamation a crux when statutory segregation reigned. Lyrical as yet direct, Hughes’ poems finished him a leading expression of representation Harlem Renascence and stay behind influential today.
Keep Reading
The Calm Poems wink Langston Hughes
Now 14% Off
His writing job began representation year pinpoint he progressive from feeling of excitement school do faster the 1921 poem “The Negro Speaks of Rivers.” His important book curst poetry, The Weary Blues, followed contact 1926. All over his gratuitous, Hughes depicted working-class Individual Americans subtract a prime of everyday experiences, both positive elitist negative. Picture New Dynasty City displace was centre of the twig poets harangue adapt nothingness rhythms current dialect sincerity the letdown. So innovative was his work defer Hughes wasn’t convinced settle down could sunny a days as a writer until 1930, at the end of the day becoming hold up of depiction first Swarthy Americans persecute do so.
Some of his most famed poems lean “I, Too,” “Dreams,” limit “Harlem,
•
Langston Hughes
1902-1967
Who Was Langston Hughes?
Poet and writer Langston Hughes became a leading figure of the Harlem Renaissance after his first poem was published in 1921. His first book of poetry followed five years later, in 1926. One of the first Black Americans to earn a living as a writer, Hughes went on to compose many more works of poetry, prose, and plays that center the 20th century African American experience and remain influential today. Some of his most famous poems are “Dreams,” “I, Too,” and “Harlem.” Additionally, he wrote a popular column for the Chicago Defender. In May 1967, Hughes died in his mid-60s from prostate cancer.
Quick Facts
FULL NAME: James Mercer Langston Hughes
BORN: c. February 1, 1901
DIED: May 22, 1967
BIRTHPLACE: Joplin, Missouri
ASTROLOGICAL SIGN: Aquarius
Early Life
James Mercer Langston Hughes, better known as Langston Hughes, was born in Joplin, Missouri. His birth date—likely February 1, 1901—is the subject of some debate. For decades, scholars believed his birthday was February 1, 1902, but archived newspaper evidence found in 2018 suggests Hughes was born one year earlier.
Whatever the year, his parents, James Hughes and Carrie Langston, separated soon after his birth, and his father moved to Mexico.
While Carrie