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Langston Hughes
Best known for his vivid and astute portrayals of Black life across the written page, Langston Hughes—born James Mercer Langston Hughes—(1901—1967) was a poet, pla...view moreBest known for his vivid and astute portrayals of Black life across the written page, Langston Hughes—born James Mercer Langston Hughes—(1901—1967) was a poet, playwright, writer and key figure of the Harlem Renaissance who founded jazz poetry. Raised mostly by his grandmother, Hughes was instilled with a lasting sense of racial pride and a love of books from a young age and though not supported by his father in his pursuit of writing, Hughes would attend Columbia with his father’s aid in 1921, before leaving the very next year due to racial prejudice and a desire to focus on his poetry. Hughes first introduced his voice to the world in a 1921 issue of The Crisis where he published, “The Negro Speaks of Rivers.” The poem would come to be known as his signature piece and five years later was included in his debut poetry collection, The Weary Blues. Establishing himself as a key player of the Harlem Renaissance, Hughes would be one of a small group of Black intellectuals and artists of the movement who called themselves the Niggerati. Going on to write their manifesto, “The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain,” Hughes’ use of the literary medium differed heavily from the artistic aspirations of the Black middle class in that he desired to focus on highlighting the lives of working-class Black people and addressing divisions and prejudices that existed within the Black community itself. In a career spanning over four decades, Hughes would publish an award-winning novel (Not Without Laughter), multiple plays—some in collaboration with Zora Neale Hurston—(Mule Bone and Black Nativity), children’s literature (Popo and Fifina) and even an autobiography (The Big Sea); among others in a large volume of work. In his personal life, Hughes maintained lifetime friendships with members of the movement and also is believed to have had private romantic and sexual relationships with men. While Hughes’ emphasis on racial pride had begun to fall out of favor with new and coming movements of the younger generation, his contributions to the African-American literary canon and American literature at all could not be denied and as such at the time of his death was—and continues to be—one of the most talented and respected voices of a generation.view less
Books by Langston Hughes
Selected Poems of Langston Hughes The Weary Blues Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Ways of White Folks: Stories Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Weary Blues Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTambourines to Glory: A Novel Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Not Without Laughter Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Dream Keeper and Other Poems Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFather and Son Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Weary Blues Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Selected Letters of Langston Hughes: Edited by Arnold Rampersad and David Roessel Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Not Without Laughter Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Audiobooks by Langston Hughes
Not Without Laughter Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Weary Blues Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Blues in Stereo: The Early Works of Langston Hughes Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Ways of White Folks: Stories Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Poets of the Early 20th Century - Volume 2: Find beauty and hope in a period ravaged worldwide by war Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTambourines to Glory Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Great African American Literary Voices Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Black Words Matter: Poets From The 18th Century To The Harlem Renaissance Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsA Rhyme A Dozen - 12 Poets, 12 Poems, 1 Topic ― America: 12 Poets, 12 Poems, 1 Topic Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I Wonder as I Wander: An Autobiographical Journey Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Big Sea: An Autobiography Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5