Langston Hughes- More than just a Poet

 Langston Hughes- More than just a Poet

When I think of Langston Hughes, I think of Sophomore year English with Miss G - when we learned about the mid-to-late 20th century. This year in high school, all we did was read poems.

Born James Mercer Langston Hughes, he picked up writing poetry after he moved to Cleveland. He moved in with his mother and her husband there, after thirteen years of living and being raised by his grandmother. Later in life he spent a year in Mexico and was soon accepted to Columbia University in New York City.

While being a college student he worked low-paid jobs like a busboy and an assistant cook. When he worked as a seaman he travelled to Africa and around Europe. He was able to bring a colorful background to his writing.

In November 1924 he moved to Washington D.C and published his first book of poetry called The Weary Blues and his first novel, Not Without Laughter won the Harmon gold medal for literature.

Hughes gives credit to Paul Laurence Dunbar and Walt Whitman as a few of his primary influences. Hughes is particularly known for his insightful portrayal of black life in America from the 20s-60s. Through literature and writing, he was able to give detail to the harsh treatment and suffering that African Americans have dealt with. Hughes, a black man himself, was able to relate and really feel the words he was writing. He made it a goal to not differentiate between his own personal experience and other common experiences of black people in America. Hughes wanted to tell people's stories and experiences in ways that reflected their culture - and who/what made them who they are.

Hughes wrote in a way where everyone could understand he was “turning outward, using language and themes, attitudes and ideas familiar to anyone who had the ability simply to read… Until the time of his death, he spread his message humorously- though always seriously.”  Find this quote here.

His goal was to portray honesty - both highs and lows of the working-class black lives avoiding both sentimental idealization and negative stereotypes.

 As he wrote in his essay “The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain,” “We younger Negro artists who create now intend to express our individual dark-skinned selves without fear or shame. If white people are pleased we are glad. If they are not, it doesn’t matter. We know we are beautiful. And ugly too.”

Many black critics did not like this approach because they believed it to be an unattractive view of black life, but the average black person showed him love for his honest words.

In Listening to What the Ear Demands: Langston Hughes and his critics, I got to learn more about why he was critiqued. Langston Hughes was big on simple form so that all people were able to understand, as in simply READ. This type of language was mistaken for “paucity of meaning”. Although he liked simple language, to really understand the meaning behind the words one must have a deep insight into ghetto life, and struggles surrounding race. Other critics felt as though he portrayed negative characterizations of and stereotypes of African Americans.

The problems of being a poor black man in a racist society - troubles with women, money, work, and going through life were major themes. Despite the difficulties he had, he was always able to dig deep into his heart and had a belief in humanity. He had hope for a world in which people would not be seen for their color.

Looking at this now, it is almost crazy to see how much we have grown worldwide. Especially in 2020-2021, color has changed and impacted many lives. As a 20 year old, I have seen such growth in the community as we continue to live and educate ourselves.

Hughes is also known for his engagement with the world of jazz music and the influence it had on the writing he produced. His works were praised and took a big part of the Harlem Renaissance. Besides poetry, he wrote plays, essays, books, an acclaimed autobiography etc.

Hughes died on May 22nd, 1967 due to complications of prostate cancer in New York City. 

To this day in NYC, there is The Langston Hughes House located in Harlem, NY. This is where Hughes spent the last two decades of his life- and it is now open to the public. Not only is it home to some of his best works, but also to the “I, Too Arts Collective”. This non-profit has a goal to display the underrepresented communities. The address is 20 East 17th Street and is taken care of by the New York City Preservation Commission.

Check out this attraction here!

Jones, M. (2002). Listening to What the Ear Demands: Langston Hughes and His Critics. Callaloo, 25(4), 1145-1175. Retrieved April 22, 2021, from http://www.jstor.org/stable/3300277