langston hughes

Until the first part of the 20th century the world of poetry was dominated by white artists. White poetry written about the experiences of white people was the only kind of verse most people had ever heard, read, or known. With the advent of the Harlem renaissance in the 1920's, this relatively genteel world of American poetry was shaken to its foundations. Strong black voices, writing with African American rhythms and cadences broke out all over the country. Of this remarkable creative outpouring, one voice rose among all of the rest. This was the voice of Langston Hughes.

Langston Hughes captured the power of the soul of black people and with melancholy experience, history and inspiration, he wrote his poetry. Born on February 1, 1902 as James Mercer Langston Hughes, did not live a simple life, as was common with most African-Americans at that time. His parents separated soon after his birth, so he was raised mostly by his mother, grandmother, and friends of the family. Hughes grew up and lived in poverty until he began to write. His father looked down on anyone who was poor, and therefore they did not get along. Hughes quickly became an acc

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Between 1926, when he started writing, and 1967, when he died, Hughes published sixteen books of poetry, two novels, three collections of short stories, four volumes of “editorial” fiction, twenty plays, musicals, and operas, three history books, eight books for younger writers, two autobiographies, twelve radio and television scripts, and dozens of magazine articles.

“Hughes newly aware of the spiritual strength of migrant southern Negroes and feeling emotionally cast by his estranged parents, received melancholy inspiration from the sunset gold upon the Mississippi he was crossing by train. ”

In Hughes’ style, one can clearly see the racial influence. “They send me to eat in the kitchen,” is a phrase very indicative of oppression, and the shame that is felt by whites when there is an immediate association with blacks.

In “A Negro Speaks of Rivers”, Hughes expresses his feelings about the plight of black people through time to the present. Hughes moved to Harlem at the height of its golden era. This announcement became his life’s mission. His stanzas weave wildly smooth tunes about life as a black American. The reference brings light to the issue of slavery, as Abe Lincoln and the south are very clearly related to slavery. Indeed, Hughes always acknowledged that his primary poetic influences were the blues and jazz.

Among his many poetry titles; “Let America be America Again,” “I, too,” and “A Negro Speaks of Rivers,” argue passionately a belief in human equality, a wish for color-blind brotherhood, and a growing disillusionment with the American dream. “I built my hut near the Congo and it lulled me to sleep,” is an important historical reference as the Congo is the river that segregated white Africa from black Africa.

Langston Hughes has earned a place amongst the greatest poets America has ever known.

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Approximate Word count = 1581
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)

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