2. Early Life Born in Joplin, MO Parents divorced and father went to Mexico Raised by grandmother in Lawrence, Kansas until age 13 Moved to Illinois with mother and stepfather All moved to Ohio, where he finished high school Began his writing while in Lincoln, Illinois
3. Graduation/College He went to Mexico for a year Studied at Columbia University for a year Held many jobs including: cook, busboy, launderer, and a seaman allowing him to travel to Africa and Europe
4. Relationships In Mexico, he hoped to receive approval from his father and money to attend college. His father supported him financially as long as he studied engineering. His father disapproved of him becoming a writer. Hughes left Columbia University and his father to pursue writing.
5. First Writings… Hughes moved to Washington D.C. His first book of poetry, The Weary Blues, was published in 1926 Finished school at Lincoln University First novel, Not without Laughter, was released in 1930 Novel won the Harmon gold medal for literature
7. Goal/Accomplishments To write stories that combined: suffering, love, art, music, and actual culture Works had a huge influence on the Harlem Renaissance Poetry 11 plays Autobiography Edited anthologies
8. Death Died from complications of prostate cancer, May 22, 1967 Home in Harlem, New York was given a landmark status Street he lived on has been renamed “Langston Hughes Place”
9. Fun Facts Langston Hughes was one of the first black authors to support himself from his writings. Had a reputation of being a communist but testified he was not. He never married. In grade school, he was voted as “class poet”.
