Post by Auset on Feb 4, 2004 11:09:16 GMT -5
About Langston Hughes: Langston Hughes was born in Joplin, Missouri. Hughes’ parents separated when he was a young child, so he lived with his grandmother in Lawrence, Kansas until she died when he was about thirteen years old. He then went to live with is mother in Cleveland, Ohio.
Upon graduating from high school, he lived with his father in Mexico for a short time. In 1921, his poem, “The Negro Speaks of Rivers,” was published in the Crisis. That same year, he returned to the United States and began attending Columbia, University. After just one year at Columbia, he quit, and began working as a steward on a ship that traveled to Africa and Europe.
He returned to the United States in 1924 during the height of the Harlem Renaissance. He moved to Washington, D.C. and worked as a busboy in a hotel. With the extensive creation of great literature from other black authors, Hughes also encountered success with his writings during this time. In 1925, he won a poetry prize from Opportunity magazine. Additionally, in 1926, his first book, The Weary Blues was published. His other publications during the Renaissance included, Fine Clothes to the Jew (1927) and Not Without Laughter (1930), which won the Harmon gold medal award for literature.
The publication of Hughes work received positive reviews. With his success, Hughes returned to college with a scholarship to Lincoln University in Pennsylvania. He earned his bachelor degree in 1929.
Many of Hughes’ writings reflected his outlook on the world. For instance, during the depression his work mirrored his socialist attitude and during World War II some of his literature was patriotic in its tone. He also explored segregation, the life of ordinary blacks, and black culture. In addition, his work was influenced by jazz. He often wrote while listening to the music in jazz clubs.
Hughes wrote poetry, short stories, novels, plays, children’s books, and magazine articles. His work includes, The Dream Keeper (1932), The Big Sea (1940), Shakespeare in Harlem (1942), Fields of Wonder (1947), The Poetry of the Negro (1949), Montage of a Dream Deferred (1951), I Wonder as I Wander (1956), Tambourines to Glory (1958), and The Book of Negro Folklore (1958).
Hughes died of cancer on May 22, 1967. His home, located at 20 East 127th Street in Harlem, New York City, was declared a landmark by the New York City Preservation Commission.
Upon graduating from high school, he lived with his father in Mexico for a short time. In 1921, his poem, “The Negro Speaks of Rivers,” was published in the Crisis. That same year, he returned to the United States and began attending Columbia, University. After just one year at Columbia, he quit, and began working as a steward on a ship that traveled to Africa and Europe.
He returned to the United States in 1924 during the height of the Harlem Renaissance. He moved to Washington, D.C. and worked as a busboy in a hotel. With the extensive creation of great literature from other black authors, Hughes also encountered success with his writings during this time. In 1925, he won a poetry prize from Opportunity magazine. Additionally, in 1926, his first book, The Weary Blues was published. His other publications during the Renaissance included, Fine Clothes to the Jew (1927) and Not Without Laughter (1930), which won the Harmon gold medal award for literature.
The publication of Hughes work received positive reviews. With his success, Hughes returned to college with a scholarship to Lincoln University in Pennsylvania. He earned his bachelor degree in 1929.
Many of Hughes’ writings reflected his outlook on the world. For instance, during the depression his work mirrored his socialist attitude and during World War II some of his literature was patriotic in its tone. He also explored segregation, the life of ordinary blacks, and black culture. In addition, his work was influenced by jazz. He often wrote while listening to the music in jazz clubs.
Hughes wrote poetry, short stories, novels, plays, children’s books, and magazine articles. His work includes, The Dream Keeper (1932), The Big Sea (1940), Shakespeare in Harlem (1942), Fields of Wonder (1947), The Poetry of the Negro (1949), Montage of a Dream Deferred (1951), I Wonder as I Wander (1956), Tambourines to Glory (1958), and The Book of Negro Folklore (1958).
Hughes died of cancer on May 22, 1967. His home, located at 20 East 127th Street in Harlem, New York City, was declared a landmark by the New York City Preservation Commission.
