Synthesis Essay: The Life And Works Of Langston Hughes

Langston Hughes is an extremely successful and well known black writer who emerged from the Harlem Renaissance (“Langston Hughes” 792). He is recognized for his poetry and like many other writers from the Harlem Renaissance, lived most of his life outside of Harlem (“Langston Hughes” 792). His personal experiences and opinions inspire his writing intricately. Unlike other writers of his time, Hughes expresses his discontent with black oppression and focuses on the hardships of his people. Hughes’ heartfelt concern for his people’s struggle evokes the reader’s emotion. His appreciation for black music and culture is evident in his work as well. Langston Hughes is a complex poet whose profound works provide insight into all aspects of black

Langston Hughes was one of the great writers of his time. He was named the “most renowned African American poet of the 20th century” (McLaren). Through his writing he made many contributions to following generations by writing about African American issues in creative ways including the use of blues and jazz. Langston Hughes captured the scene of Harlem life in the early 20th century significantly influencing American Literature. He once explained that his writing was an attempt to “explain and illuminate the Negro condition in America” (Daniel 760). To fulfill this task, he wrote 15 volumes of poetry, six novels, three books, 11 plays, and a variety of non-fiction work (Daniel 760). He also edited over 50 books in his time (McKay).

Langston Hughes was born on February 1st, and died May 22, 1967. His life and upbringing is what led him to be the author that he became. He was one of the earliest innovators of the then-new literary art form called jazz poetry. Hughes is best known as a leader of the Harlem Renaissance. He famously wrote about the period that the Black Population was in vogue, which was later paraphrased as when Harlem was in vogue. Hughes’s family came from a long line of African American politicians that were activists. This is what inspired Hughes to write for what he believed in.

Langston Hughes was born on February 1st 1902 in Joplin Missouri (“Langston Hughes” par. 1). His divorced parents resulted in being raised by his grandmother until his pre teen years. Following many relocations over America, he also explored “Africa and Europe as a seaman”, eventually settling in Washington D.C. Langston created his first poetry book, The Weary Blues, which was published in 1926 by Alfred A. Knopf. He completed post secondary in the following three years at “University of Pennsylvania” . Following his graduation, he had written and published his first novel, Not Without Laughter, which, “won the Harmon gold medal for literature”. Langston was known for his “insightful and colourful portrayal of black life in America through the twenties to the sixties”. His work expressed cultural struggles of black individuals with engaging and entertaining forms of literature, such as; plays, novels, short stories, and poetry. Hughes, unlike other black artists who “were turning inward”, wanted to “tell stories that reflected their [black] actual culture [...] including their suffering and their love of music”.

James Mercer Langston Hughes was one of the greatest artists of the Harlem Renaissance. Langston Hughes was a very well renounced American poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist. Born on February 1, 1902 in Joplin, Missouri, James Mercer Langston Hughes was the great-great-grandson of Charles Henry Langston ("Langston Hughes Biography"). Charles Henry Langston was the brother of the first African American to be elected to public office, John Mercer Langston. He attended school in Cleveland, Ohio. While attending Central High School, James Mercer Langston Hughes began writing poetry in the eighth grade. However, he was discouraged by his father who thought James Mercer Langston Hughes should pursue a more practical career ("Langston Hughes Biography").

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

Explain: In other words, this poem is a message intended to speak to all the poor individuals who live in America, whether they originated from across the waters or are natives. He sees the government and the business people as full of greedy, and not treating the lower class decently. However, according to Langston Hughes this is not the expectation of the constitution. The author is trying to tell us that he feels the "Alleviation" (free nourishment for the needy) is insufficient for him. He needs a greater amount of everything for everyone so America can become America

Langston Hughes is arguably one of the best known American writers of the twentieth century. He played an important influential part in the Harlem Renaissance, his poetry and other literary works helped pave way to a new wave of African American culture and literature. Hughes had a wide variety of works, he was much more than just a poet; he was a short-story writer, novelist, and playwright (Brucker). He was also very involved in the Black Arts Movement, and had works published in “The Crisis” the official journal of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People the (NAACP). Till his death Hughes continued to be an advocate against racial.injustice through his many works that focused around and celebrated the lives of

Hughes wrote "I, Too" from the perspective of a slaved African American man. His purpose in writing this poem was to show how people of color were treated but also to highlight his hopes for the future of America by not judging one by his appearance. Although this poem deals with a less pleasant aspect of life it stills does not belittle the strong message behind the poem but instead, the author sheds light on a harsh, but common struggle that many African Americans experience during this time of history. In the poem, “I, Too” the author reflects a hopeful tone to show his frustration towards the racism he experiences. As a slave, he must eat in the kitchen away from the company that comes over, but he speaks about how “Tomorrow I’ll be at the table when company comes,” (8-10).

In the poems titled “What Happens to Deferred Dreams,” and “Dreams,” Langston Hughes uses several literary devices to inspire, encourage, and evoke thoughts of hope to black Americans. Hughes sensory and visual imagery, figurative language, and similes to emphasize the importance of dreaming and what would life be if no one had dreams. Dreaming is different for everyone and its up to the dreamer to interpret the meaning. Hughes uses similes’ to make the reader pause and ponder the meaning or significance of dreams. Dreaming is significant to some and others disregard them all together. Dreams are important to Hughes because dreams have no boundaries or limits of possibilities, which is closely related to how freedom and equality means. The theme in poems is similar ideas, however the details separate their meaning.

Langston Hughes’ poem “I, Too” is a great representation of Generation Z and what they think it is like to be an American. This poem talks about the struggles of equality, and segregation, which is something Generation Z commonly struggles with. Generation Z struggles with equality towards minority groups, especially towards, Black-Americans, and Mexicans. Many protests have taken place over inequality, and police brutality. One of the Generation’s greatest struggles, have been over innocent minority groups, being killed and arrested.

Hughes would remind the audience of this difference between pay no attention to dreams and getting rid of them altogether and we are reminded that a deferred dream is not a canceled dream. Then Hughes would change your perception of a deferred dream when he makes you think of sweet-tasting things that would crust or sugar over like honey and candy stirring up the taste buds and drawing a gap between the bitterness of a lost

Langston Hughes was born on February 1, 1902 in the small town of Joplin, Missouri. A while after he was born, his parents separated. He was a famous poet. When he was living with his mother, he developed an interest in poetry. His first famous poem was The Negro Speaks Of Rivers, which was published in The Crisis, the official magazine of the NAACP. In the 1920’s, he lived with his father in Mexico. He was influenced by Carl Sandburg and Walt Whitman. One of the things he wrote about was the life of an African American. He wrote an article for the Chicago defender which gave African Americans a voice in America. He wrote most of his poetry in Paris, France. His most famous poem is Still Here. He died of prostate cancer on May 22, 1967. After

In 1951, Langston Hughes wrote on of his more political poems titled “Harlem.” It shone light on the need for change in the African American society. Hughes used this poem, and many others like it, to help pioneer the Harlem Renaissance. Born in Joplin,Missouri , Hughes (1902-1967) grew up in Lincoln, Illinois and Cleveland,Ohio. He began writing poetry during his high schoolyears(Gardner,465).His high school companions, most of whom were white, remembered him as a handsome "Indianlooking" youth whom everyone liked and respected for his quiet, natural ways and his abilities. He won an athletic letter in track and held offices in the student council and the American Civic Association(gale). In his senior year he was chosen class poet and

Credited as being the most recognizable figure of the Harlem Renaissance, Langston Hughes played a vital role in the Modernist literary movement and the movement to revitalize African American culture in the early 20th century. Hughes’s poems reflect his personal struggle and the collective struggle of African Americans during this cultural revival.