LANGSTON HUGHES

(1902-1967)

Jordan Mills,
Sarah Kane,
Natalie
Falemaka
A5

THE BEGINNING
Born on February 1, 1902 in Joplin, Missouri.
After his parents divorced, he was raised by his
grandmother
Later moved in with his mother and stepfather in Lincoln,
Illinois
Started writing poetry
Graduated from high school, went to Columbian University,
and travelled to Mexico, Africa, Spain, and Paris
"The Negro Speaks of Rivers" was published in The Crisis
magazine in 1921
He held odd jobs such as assistant cook, launderer, and
busboy

CAREER LAUNCHED
First book of poetry The Weary Blues won fi rst prize
in the Opportunity magazine literary competition
(1925). It was published by Alfred A. Knopf in 1926
(age 24)
In 1930, fi rst novel, Not Without Laughter, won
Harmon gold medal for literature
Wrote novels, short stories, plays, and poetry
Also known for his engagement with the world of jazz
Among the fi rst to use jazz rhythms and dialect to
depict the life of urban blacks in his work
First contribution to jazz poetry was First Book of Jazz
for children

IMPACT
Until the time of his death, he spread his message
humorouslythough always seriouslyto audiences
throughout the country, having read his poetry to more
people (possibly) than any other American poet.
-Donald B. Gibson
Known for his engagement with the world of jazz
Life and work were enormously important in shaping
the artistic contributions of the Harlem Renaissance
of the 1920s
In his memory, his residence at 20 East 127th Street
in Harlem has been given landmark status by the New
York City Preservation Commission, and East 127th
Street has been renamed Langston Hughes Place.

DREAM DEFERRED (EXCERPT)

RESOURCES
http://
www.english.illinois.edu/maps/poets/g_l/hughes/life.h
tm
http://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poet/langston-hughes
http://
www.examiner.com/article/text-and-meaning-hughes-th
e-negro-artist-and-the-racial-mountain-part-1
http://
www.openculture.com/2015/03/langston-hughes-presents
-the-history-of-jazz-i.html
http://
www.biography.com/people/langston-hughes-9346313
#synopsis
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/371898881701651010/
http://usa2014.voices.wooster.edu/dreams-by-langsto
n-hughes