Langston Hughes 2
Throughout the history of literature, authors have told their readers of the time periods they have lived in and also they have reflected parts of their own character. One major style that has been effectively used in this manner is poetry. The style of poetry was a greatly made use of during the Harlem Renaissance, which was when the African-American "arts" was at its peak. One of the most popular poets of the Harlem Renaissance is Langston Hughes. Despite the racism that prevailed in the 1920s, Langston Hughes used his poetry, as well as prose, to encourage himself and his fellow African-Americans to be proud of their race regardless of their trials and tribulations. James Langston Hughes was born on February 1, 1902 in Joplin, Missouri to James Nathaniel Hughes and Carrie Hughes, two intelligent, college-educated blacks. Soon after Langston's birth his parents separated; James left for Mexico where he became an engineer while Carrie was forced to take watering and cleaning jobs (Rampersad 5). For most of Langston's childhood, he lived with his grandmother, Mary Langston, a headstrong woman who escaped slavery and became an underground railroad conductor. Langston received his love for "the arts" from his mother and g
Something in Common and Other Stories (1963) Langston chose to live a loose life. He had to face the consequences, such as when he was admitted into a California hospital for a serious gonorrhea outbreak and released on his 39th birthday. He was a heavy smoker and big on social drinking. (Rampersad-II 3) He began to write a column for the Chicago Defender where his fame increased with the ever so hilarious, satirical character Jesse B. Simple in 1943 (Ostrom 111) Despite his career in "encouraging the Negro race (Parker 67)", he was still reduced to taking "Negro jobs", such as being a college educated busboy at the age of 41 (Rampersad-II 166). In 1947, Hughes takes a job teaching Atlanta University students English, and American literature. He was always sure to tell these black students about black authors, a privilege that many are even denied today (Rampersad 175). He continued to write, although not much was published. It seemed that he was more so living the life rather then writing it. Only one book of poetry was released, Field of Wonder (Hughes Selected Poems ii). Langston Hughes' teenage years were a source of enlightenment for him as far as a career and his relationships with people. In 1915, his grandmother died, but he did not cry. He states, "No one in my grandmother's stories ever cried and it made seem useless crying about anything (Hughes 18)." That same year, his mother got remarried and he now had a stepbrother who was only a baby. He moved to Lincoln Illinois with them. There he was in eighth grade where he was elected class poet.
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1956
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)
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