1. LANGSTON HUGHES
Author Presntation By: Keshia Kimble

2. About Langston Hughes
James Mercer Langston Hughes known most popularly as
Langston Hughes was born February 1, 1902 in Joplin Missouri.
He was an American poet, social activist, novelist, playwright and
columnist. He was also a founding father of the literary art form of
jazz poetry. During the time period of heighten cultural movement
in the African American Community in Harlem known as the
Harlem Renaissance, Langston wrote some of his most popular
work.

3. Biography
Langston faced many troubles as an African American man, which were
documented in his literary works.
Although he faced racism like most African American men did he was a
man of mixed decent. His paternal great grandfather was Caucasian
and Scottish & his maternal great grandfather was European and
Jewish. Langston wrote about being a mixed man in the poem
“Mulatto”
He spent most of his childhood in Lawrence, Kansas His grandmother
instilled a sense of lasting racial pride. After the death of his
grandmother, he went to live with family friends, James and Mary
Reed, for two years. Because of the unstable early life, his childhood
was not an entirely happy one, but it strongly influenced the poet he
would become.
As an adolescent Langston went to live with his mother. During high
school in Cleveland, Ohio, he wrote for the school newspaper, edited
the yearbook, and began to write his first short stories, poetry, and
dramatic plays. During this time he also wrote "When Sue Wears
Red", which was his first literary jazz piece.

4. Biography Continued
Hughes has a poor relationship with his father and one of his most
famous poems “ A Negro Speaks of Rivers” was written on a train
ride home from visiting his father who had moved to Mexico.
Hughes worked various jobs and traveled the world. When he
worked at Wardman Park Hotel he met Vachel Lindsay and he
shared his poems. Lindsay was impressed and publicized his
find. Despite this “big break” Hughes was already published and
compiling poems for his first book.
On May 22, 1967 Langston Hughes passed away from complications
from abdominal surgery in relation to his battle with prostate
cancer.

6. Career
 Hughes was poem “A Negro Speaks Of  In 1934 The Ways of White Folks was
Rivers” was1st published in a publication published, It was a combination of short
called The Crisis in 1921 stories based on interactions between
White and Black people.
 Created a magazine called Fire! Along with
other artist from the Harlem Renaissance  In 1947 Hughes taught at Atlanta
devoted to younger black artist. University and University of Chicag
 In 1930 Hughes 2st novel “ Not Without  Hughes also co –wrote a screen play call
Laughter won the Harmon Gold Medal for The Way Down South
literature.

7. Honors & Accolades
•1943, Lincoln University awarded Hughes an honorary Litt.D.
•1960, the NAACP awarded Hughes the Spingarn Medal for distinguished
achievements by an African American.
•1961 National Institute of Arts and Letters.
•1963 Howard University awarded Hughes an honorary doctorate
•1973, the first Langston Hughes Medal was awarded by the City College of New
York.
•1979, Langston Hughes Middle School was created in Reston, Virginia.
•1981, New York City Landmark status was given to the Harlem home of Langston
Hughes at 20 East 127th Street by the New York City Landmarks Prservation
Commission and 127th St. was renamed Langston Hughes Place. The Langston
Hughes House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.
•2002 The United States Postal Service added the image of Langston Hughes to its
Black Heritage series of postage stamps.
•2002, scholar Molefi Kete Asante listed Langston Hughes on his list of 100
Greatest African Americans.

8. From a personal prospective Langston Hughes is one of my favorite
poets. He is one of the first poets I remember reading and learning
about in grade school. He’s left a lasting impression in my spirit to
this day. I could and still can sense his pride in his race; his pride
contributed to my racial pride. It also helpd inspire me to fulfill my
potential due to the sacrifices made by the people in African
American history.

9. As a parting gift from this author presentation I wanted to
share my favorite Langston Hughes poem
A Dream Deferred
Langston Hughes
What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up
like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore–
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over–
like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.
Or does it explode?