Langston Hughes Hero Essay

The beginning of the 20th century many African Americans migrated from the south to the north in what we call today, the Great Migration. Many African Americans found themselves in a district of New York City called Harlem. The area known as Harlem matured into the hideaway of jazz and the blues where the African American artist emerged calling themselves the “New Negro.” The New Negro was the cornerstone for an era known today as the Harlem Renaissance (Barksdale 23). The Harlem Renaissance warranted the expression of the double consciousness of the African Americans, which was exposed by artists such as Langston Hughes. James Mercer Langston Hughes was an African American poet, journalist, playwright, and novelist whose works were

Heroes come in different shapes, sizes, and looks. Maybe someone you saw on the street one day was heroic for saving someone’s life in a car accident. A hero to me is someone who can be brave in situations that aren’t so safe, and take a risk to make sure everyone is okay, no matter who

Hughes full name is James Langston Hughes. He was born in 1902 and passed away in the year of 1967. He grew up with his mother and father separated. Hughes was known through his lifetime for his poetry. When he arrived to Harlem, Hughes was often referred to as “Harlem’s poet.” [3]

A hero is simply, someone that shows courage and bravery to persevere through hardships. For example, a hero shows great acts of strength and determination to continue in the face of difficulty. The action that a hero demonstrates, is what causes recognition and appreciation. A hero takes action for a cause that they feel strongly about. For instance, if someone was bullying another kid, and someone who was watching from the outside, decided to stand up for what they believe in, that person who acted upon the bully would be considered a hero. The person took action for what they believe in, and didn’t just sit there and let the kid get bullied. In other words, a hero can be anyone that demonstrates skill and determination to stand up for what they believe in. Martin Luther King Jr and Rosa Parks are two examples of people who acted upon a cause they felt strongly about.

Langston Hughes was one of the first black men to express the spirit of blues and jazz

James Mercer Langston Hughes was born in 1902 in Joplin, Missouri. He grew up mainly in Lawrence, Kansas but also lived in Illinois, Ohio and Mexico. Constantly having to travel he wrote his poem that would make him famous, “The Negro Speaks of Rivers”. Having different expectations his parents slit up resulting in him living with his maternal grandmother.

Langston Hughes was born on February 2, 1902 in Joplin Missouri, and died on May 22, 1967 in New York, New York. Hughes' African American themes helped to contribute to the Harlem Renaissance in the 1920s, where he was a leader. He attended Columbia University and Lincoln University, published his first poem in 1921 and his first book in 1926. Hughes was a poet, playwright, novelist, and more.

James Langston Hughes was born February 1, 1902, in Joplin, Missouri. His parents divorced when he was very small, and his father (who found American racism made his desires to be a lawyer impossible) left the family and emigrated to Mexico. Hughes' mother moved with her child to Lawrence, Kansas, so she and he could live with his grandmother, Mary Langston.

According to Joseph Campbell, "A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself" . This means that a hero is person who is made a sacrifice for the good of others. A Hero is defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary as "a man admired for his achievements and noble qualities" . This means that a hero is someone people look up to. Anyone can be a hero. Heroes have qualities such as bravery, strength, and selflessness. Mothers, soldiers, and Odysseus are all examples of heroes.

Foremost, Langston Hughes was born on February 1st, 1902 in Joplin, Missouri to two black parents. They later divorced which caused Hughes to move around a lot and be raised by his grandmother. Through his friends and schoolmates, Hughes was “introduced to leftist literature and ideology” (Gale Group), as they associated with socialism. This marked the beginning of Hughes avid love of reading and literature. He was influenced by The Souls of Black Folk which which was a classic novel about racism that inspired his writing and poems about the “experiences, attitudes, and language of everyday black Americans” (Gale Group). Hughes experienced racism first hand through his father, as he considered all other races inferior to whites, further alienating Hughes from him. At 17, he wrote “The Negro Speaks of Rivers” which celebrated the voice and soul of the black community in a time of great hatred, helping to unite and inspire blacks during the Harlem Renaissance. The Harlem Renaissance was a time of cultural rebirth and a movement during the 1920s and 1930s in America in which black artists, activists, musicians, and writers “found new ways to explore and celebrate the black experience” (Gale Group) in the midst of white oppression. Hughes’ poetry gave a voice and inspiration for many black people across America as he detailed their struggles and pain related to the racial prejudice shown against them. The way Hughes wrote, threading in “structures and rhythms of jazz music” (Gale Group), his

His creativity is what helped shape the artistic contributions of the Harlem Renaissance. He was considered the most popular star in his time (page 65 ). He was born February 1, 1902 in Joplin, Missouri. ( page 65). Hughes wrote poetry and most of them were written because of the Harlem Renaissance. He wrote a poem called “ The Negro Speaks of Rivers” which was written in 1920(source 2). Langston hughes had a complex ancestry, both of his great grandmothers were African American slaves and both of his great grandfathers were white slave owners in

Langston Hughes was born on February 1, 1902, in Joplin, Missouri. He was named after his father, James Hughes, but was known as Langston. He was the only child from his parents James and Carrie Hughes. His parents were not married for long because of an unhappy marriage. When they separated, Langston was left with his mother, who left him behind to move from city to city to find work. Langston ended up living with his 70 year-old grandmother in Lawrence, Kansas. He lived with her until he was 13, and then he moved back with his mother in Lincoln, Kansas after his grandmother died in 1915.

Langston Hughes inspired others to reach their true potential in their work by using their own life as a catalyst:

“James Mercer Langston Hughes, known as Langston Hughes was born February 2, 1902 in Missouri, to Carrie Hughes and James Hughes.” Years later his parents separated. Langston’s father moved to Mexico and became very successful, as his for mother, she moved frequently to find better jobs. As a child growing up Langston spent most of his childhood living with his grandmother named Mary Langston in Lawrence, Kansas. Mary Langston was a learned women and a participant in the civil rights Movement. When Langston Hughes was 12 years old his grandmother passed away. Langston then moved in with his mother and stepfather Homer Clark. A few months later, Langston’s mother sent him to live with her mother’s friend “Auntie” and Mr. Reed. In 1915

Langston Hughes uses his own experiences as evidence as to how society tries to influence the minds of others. Hughes self-identifies as a black person, “I am the only colored student in my class.” He emphasizes how his ethnicity separates him from his white classmates. He also hints about how his life was harder just because he was a black student; saying that his professor is more free because he is “older-- and white.” He is able to align himself closely with his classmates and professor even though he has described his experience with segregation and racism. Like them he likes “to eat, sleep, drink, and be love./ I like to work, read learn, and understand