Langston Hughes and the African-American Dream
             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 accomplished writer though. 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. He also edited seven anthologies during this time.
             Langston Hughes was born in Joplin, Missouri to a family of abolitionists. His grandfather was James Mercer Langston, the first black American to be elected to public office in 1855. After high school Hughes went on to Columbia University to study engineering but soon dropped out to p...