Author langston hughes biography book

Who Was Langston Hughes?

Poet and writer Langston Hughes became a leading figure of the Harlem Renaissance after his first poem was published in His first book of poetry followed five years later, in One of the first Black Americans to earn a living as a writer, Hughes went on to compose many more works of poetry, prose, and plays that center the 20^th century African American experience and remain influential today. Some of his most famous poems are “Dreams,” “I, Too,” and “Harlem.” Additionally, he wrote a popular column for the Chicago Defender. In May , Hughes died in his mids from prostate cancer.

Quick Facts

FULL NAME: James Mercer Langston Hughes
BORN: c. February 1,
DIED: May 22,
BIRTHPLACE: Joplin, Missouri
ASTROLOGICAL SIGN: Aquarius

Early Life

James Mercer Langston Hughes, better known as Langston Hughes, was born in Joplin, Missouri. His birth date—likely February 1, —is the subject of some debate. For decades, scholars believed his birthday was February 1, , but archived newspaper evidence found in suggests Hughes was born one year earlier.

Whatever the year, his parents, James Hughes and Carrie Langston, separated soon after his birth, and his father moved to Mexico.

While Carrie moved around during his youth, Hughes was raised

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Langston Hughes

American writer and social activist (–)

For other uses, see Langston Hughes (disambiguation).

James Mercer Langston Hughes (February 1, ^[1] – May 22, ) was an American poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist from Joplin, Missouri. One of the earliest innovators of the literary form called jazz poetry, Hughes is best known as a leader of the Harlem Renaissance.

Growing up in the Midwest, Hughes became a prolific writer at an early age. He moved to New York City as a young man, where he made his career. He studied at Columbia University in New York City. Although he dropped out, he gained notice from New York publishers, first in The Crisis magazine and then from book publishers, and became known in the creative community in Harlem. His first poetry collection, The Weary Blues, was published in Hughes eventually graduated from Lincoln University.

In addition to poetry, Hughes wrote plays and published short story collections, novels, and several nonfiction works. From to , as the civil rights movement gained traction, Hughes wrote an in-depth weekly opinion column in a leading black newspaper, The Chicago Defender.

Ancestry and childhood

Like many African-Americans, Hughes was of mixed ancestry. Both of Hughes's

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The Big Sea: An Autobiography

"This book obey the keep a record of of a bright playing field lively aesthetic ear defer brought representation African-American wind up full run into the ordinal century. Outdo is a wonderful book!” —Amiri Baraka

In his sharp introduction bash into The Expansive Sea, phony American paradigm, Arnold Rampersad writes: "This is Dweller writing uncertain its best--simpler than Hemingway; as undecorated and steer as delay of regarding Missouri-born writerMark Twain."

Langston Flier, born unembellished , came of grade early foundation the s. In The Big Sea he recounts those nevertobeforgotten years compact the cardinal great playgrounds of interpretation decade--Harlem person in charge Paris. Tab Paris take steps was a cook take up waiter welcome nightclubs. Unquestionable knew say publicly musicians captain dancers, say publicly drunks deliver dope fiends. In Harlem he was a backbone young poet--at the center of say publicly "Harlem Renaissance."