5 Poems by Langston Hughes

Langston Hughes (1902-1967)
Langston Hughes' grand uncle, John Mercer Langston, was the first black congressman elected from Virginia in 1888. [1] Born James Mercer Langston Hughes February 1, 1902, both of his parents were of mixed race. His mother Carrie (Caroline) Mercer Langston was a school teacher. His father, James Nathaniel Hughes, left the family when Langston was a child. [2]
After his parents separated, Langston was raised by his maternal grandmother, Mary Patterson, in Lawrence, Kansas. [3] She impressed racial pride in the young Langston. [4] When she died he went to live with family friends James and Mary Reed. During this time his mother had been seeking employment. He reunited with his mother after she re-married in Lincoln, Illinois. [5]
He attended Columbia, but left left because of racial prejudice. [6] Hughes then worked odd jobs and earned a B.A. From Lincoln University in 1929. His political views had developed left of center, but Arnold Rampersad writes that during WWII his views were more aligned with the center. [7] Still, in 1953, Senator Joseph McCarthy "forced him to...testify officially about his politics." [8] But, the disgrace was soon conferred on the discredited McCarthy.
Langston Hughes was an influential figure in the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920's and 30's. [9] He received a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1935 and established a theater troupe in Los Angeles. In addition to poetry he wrote short stories, plays, operas, novels, childrens' books and 2 autobiographies. [10]
In the 1950's and 60's Hughes' fell out of favor with younger black writers who considered his views dated. [11]
Langston Hughes died May 22, 1967 from complications from prostrate cancer.
Text of Poems
Theme for English B
www.poetryfound...
Madam's Past History
www.poetryfound...
The Negro Speaks of Rivers
www.poets.org/v...
(Listen To Hughes read it on this page too.)
Night Funeral in Harlem
www.poets.org/v...
Dream Variations
www.poets.org/v...
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Sources & Notes
Wikipedia: Langston Hughes (Notes: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,9, 10, 11)
en.wikipedia.or...
Rampersad, Arnold, The Life of Langston Hughes Volume 1: I, Too, Sing America. Oxford University Press 1986 page 56 (Note 6)
Modern American Poetry: Arnold Rampersad, "Hughes' Life and Career" From The Oxford Companion to African American Literature. Copyright © 1997 by Oxford University Press
(Note 7, 8)
www.english.ill...

[@robertorellana103]

I love Langston Hughes he made a profound effect on me when I took English Literature in college.

[@antoinettewatson1632]

Langston Hughes is my favorite poet.

[@albertozarate9326]

1. Dream Variations 0:08
2.Theme for English B 1:07
3. Madam's Past History 3:38
4. Night Funeral in Harlem 4:31
5. The Negro Speaks of Rivers 6:22

[@Idlinfarm]

I love these poems. Thank you for the excellent reading.

[@SunnyDlite84]

❤

[@preachthepoet2442]

Black like me was deep it gave me goose bumps

[@symphonymagic]

Thank you, this was extremely beautiful

[@Poemsapennyeach]

Very good ...James..

[@stamsospecial]

beautiful . . .thank you

[@Pastorbillanddesi]

Great poetry.

[@laylarose8463]

Such beautiful poetry. I love poems by Langston Hughes.

[@julennipelegrin6180]

i know you were not speaking to me but me to and sorry for me not minding my own beezwax😯😄

[@jacobiejacobiephelps5229]

Very good

[@ginginbenton6463]

Short poetry with long meaning.

[@kizzdanielvevo.678kviews5]

I too my favorite

[@djuandobbins9297]

cool

[@ezequielvega3120]

The voice says "I am the only colored student..." Question: How would it be a non colored student?

[@jewelgrier4593]

2020

[@bradleyscott6892]

Is this Langston Hughes who is reciting these poems?

[@jennajobasiaz5559]

NO

[@missychick1359]

Great poems, questionable "I'm soooo good at reading d r
a
m
a t
i
c
al
ly"
reading style. That's the kind of pretension that turns people away from poetry.

[@djuandobbins9297]

gh