Hughes Poetic Life

James Langston Hughes was born on February 1, 1902 in Joplin, Missouri. He was the son of an African American mother, Carrie M. Langston and  caucasian father, James N. Hughes who separated at his birth.  Hughes was then raised by his mother along with the help of his grandmother. He grew up attending public elementary schools in Kansas and Illinois. Attending high school in, Cleveland, Ohio,  Hughes started  writing poetry. He was introduced to the works of poets such as Carl Sandburg.  Hughes  began submitting his work to magazines, but all were rejected. 

      Later, he graduated from a high school in, Cleveland, Ohio, in 1920. After high school, Hughes spent a year in Mexico with his father who was very discouraging to his writing. Hughes payed little attention to his father's dismay because his works were beginning to be seen in  the Brownie's Book, (a publication for children edited by W. E. B. Du Bois). One of his most popular works "A Negro Speaks of River," appeared in the Crisis magazine in 1921. After returning from Mexico, Hughes enrolled in Columbia University with finances coming from his father under the conditions that he major in engineering. He maintained a B+ average but soon dropped out and continued his writing career. In 1924, Hughes went to live with his mother in Washington, D.C. with hopes of earning enough money to return to college. During this time, he was able to write many poems. Later, Hughes moved to Harlem, New York where he would sit and listen in blues and jazz clubs writing poetry. He picked up a certain rhythm that he would use in his writing. He became very influential to The Harlem Renaissance as may of his poems and works flourished. Eventually, Hughes moved back to Washington D.C., still spending more time in blues and jazz clubs. One of his books of poetry, The Weary Blues won first prize in 1925 in a literary competition sponsored by Opportunity, a magazine published by the National Urban League.This book portrayed Hughes pride in his African heritage and sense of humor, it also included democracy, everyday life for African Americans, and patriotism. Hughes second book, Fine Clothes to the Jew was published in 1927.Also, one of his essays and another poem won prizes in the Crisis literary contest.  

     Hughes was able to return to college in 1925 and graduated from Lincoln University in 1929. In 1930, his very first novel was published titled Not with Laughter. With the success of his first novel, Hughes began touring and wrote poems, essays, book reviews, song lyrics, plays, and short stories.  He became a newspaper columnist for the Chicago Defender, and created "Simple." The sketches of Simple, collected in five volumes, were conversations between an uneducated, African American city dweller, Jesse B. Semple (Simple), and an educated but less sensitive African American friend. The sketches that ran in the Defender for twenty-five years.  Hughes became known as the "most eloquent [fluent and persuasive] spokesman" for African Americans. 

     Langston Hughes later went on to  receive numerous scholarships, awards, and honorary degrees, including the Anisfield-Wolf Award (1953) for a book on improving race relations. He taught creative writing at two universities; had his plays produced on four continents; and made recordings of African American history, music commentary, and his own poetry. Hughes was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and to the National Institute of Arts and Letters. Many of his works, were translated into a dozen languages that earned him an international reputation. Hughes has a sum of forty-seven volumes. He died of cancer in New York City on May 22, 1967. However, many of Langston Hughes works were published posthumously.

"More About Hughes"

http://www.biography.com/people/langston-hughes-9346313

"Poetry by Langston Hughes The Weary Blues"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyqwvC5s4n8