Sojourner Truth
African-American abolitionist and women's rights activist
Langston Hughes was an acclaimed American poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist who was a leader of the Harlem Renaissance. He pioneered the literary form of jazz poetry and wrote extensively about the African-American experience, including the period when Harlem was thriving and in vogue.
Table of Contents
About the Langston Hughes
James Mercer Langston Hugheswas an American poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist from Joplin, Missouri. One of the earliest innovators of the literary art form called jazz poetry, Hughes is best known as a leader of the Harlem Renaissance. He famously wrote about the period that “the Negro was in vogue”, which was later paraphrased as “when Harlem was in vogue.”
Growing up in a series of Midwestern towns, Hughes became a prolific writer at an early age. He moved to New York City as a young man, where he made his career. He graduated from high school in Cleveland, Ohio, and soon began studies at Columbia University in New York City. Although he dropped out, he gained notice from New York publishers, first in The Crisis magazine and then from book publishers, and became known in the creative community in Harlem. His first poetry collection, The Weary Blues, was published in 1926. Hughes eventually graduated from Lincoln University.
In addition to poetry, Hughes wrote plays and published short story collections, novels, and several nonfiction works. From 1942 to 1962, as the civil rights movement gained traction, Hughes wrote an in-depth weekly opinion column in a leading black newspaper, The Chicago Defender.
Frequently Asked Questions
Langston Hughes was an American poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist from Joplin, Missouri. He was one of the earliest innovators of the literary art form called jazz poetry and was a leader of the Harlem Renaissance.
Langston Hughes wrote extensively about the African-American experience, including the period when Harlem was thriving and in vogue. He famously wrote about this time, saying that ,the Negro was in vogue,.
Langston Hughes was born on February 1, 1901, and passed away on May 22, 1967.
Langston Hughes was one of the earliest innovators of the literary art form called jazz poetry, which combined poetry with jazz music and style.
Langston Hughes grew up in a series of Midwestern towns, but later moved to New York City, where he made his career as a prolific writer. He graduated from high school in Cleveland, Ohio, and studied at Columbia University in New York City.
In addition to poetry, Langston Hughes wrote plays, published short story collections, novels, and several nonfiction works. He also wrote an in-depth weekly opinion column in a leading black newspaper, The Chicago Defender, from 1942 to 1962.
Langston Hughes was a leader of the Harlem Renaissance, a period of cultural and artistic expression by African Americans in the 1920s. He was known as a prominent figure in this vibrant creative community in Harlem, New York.
14 Quotes by Langston Hughes
- 1.
I will not take “but” for an answer.
Langston Hughes(1901-1967) American writer and social activist
- 2.
Let the rain kiss you. Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid drops. Let the rain sing you a lullaby.
Langston Hughes(1901-1967) American writer and social activist
- 3.
What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up Like a raisin in the sun?… Or does it explode?
Langston Hughes(1901-1967) American writer and social activist
- 4.
Like a welcome summer rain, humor may suddenly cleanse and cool the earth, the air and you.
Langston Hughes(1901-1967) American writer and social activist
- 5.
I swear to the Lord, I still can’t see, why Democracy means, everybody but me.
Langston Hughes(1901-1967) American writer and social activist
- 6.
Hold fast to your dreams, for without them life is a broken winged bird that cannot fly.
Langston Hughes(1901-1967) American writer and social activist
- 7.
Beauty for some provides escape, who gain a happiness in eyeing the gorgeous buttocks of the ape or Autumn sunsets exquisitely dying.
Langston Hughes(1901-1967) American writer and social activist
- 8.
Negroes – Sweet and docile, Meek, humble, and kind: Beware the day – They change their mind.
Langston Hughes(1901-1967) American writer and social activist
- 9.
When peoples care for you and cry for you, they can straighten out your soul.
Langston Hughes(1901-1967) American writer and social activist
- 10.
We Negro writers, just by being black, have been on the blacklist all our lives. Censorship for us begins at the color line.
Langston Hughes(1901-1967) American writer and social activist
- 11.
Humor is laughing at what you haven’t got when you ought to have it.
Langston Hughes(1901-1967) American writer and social activist
- 12.
It’s such a Bore Being always Poor.
Langston Hughes(1901-1967) American writer and social activist
- 13.
I have discovered in life that there are ways of getting almost anywhere you want to go, if you really want to go.
Langston Hughes(1901-1967) American writer and social activist
- 14.
An artist must be free to choose what he does, certainly, but he must also never be afraid to do what he might choose.
Langston Hughes(1901-1967) American writer and social activist