Langston Hughes

Introduction• Langston Hughes was born in 1902, in Joplin

Missouri.• He was a poet, and he was renowned for his

advocacy in equality.• He wrote 16 books of poetry, 2 novels, 3

collections of short stories, 4 volumes of “editorial” and documentary” fiction, 20 plays, children’s poetry, musicals and operas, 3 autobiographies, a dozen radio and television scripts and dozens of magazine articles.

• You can say he wrote a lot of stuff.

Hughes’s Background• Langston Hughes was born into an abolitionist

family. His great-great uncle was John Mercer Langston, who was the first Black American to be elected into public office.

• Hughes went to Cleveland High School in Cleveland Ohio where he started his writing career.

• When he graduated, he attended Columbia university, where he dropped out.

More Background Info.• Although he dropped out, he still wrote poetry

and published his first poem, which was also one of his most famous, “The Negro Speaks of Rivers.”

• One of his favorite past times was sitting in the Harlem clubs listening to the “Blues.”

• During the Harlem Renaissance, his writings flourished.

• Later, Hughes receives a scholarship to Lincoln University; he was awarded an honorary Lit. D.

Poems He Wrote• Let America Be America Again

• Life is Fine

• I, Too, Sing America (which is my favorite Hughes poem)

Conclusion• Yeah it’s the end! Hughes’s life reflects in

his writings. There is no doubt that he is one of the greatest writers in the history of writers. To truly understand his writing, you have to look back at his life. Once you do that, then you know where he is coming from.

Cites• Redhotjazz.com. Andrew P. Jackson.

2009http://www.redhotjazz.com/hughes.html/

• Poets.org.Academy of American Poets.1997. 2005 http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/83/