By: Niakeya Jones
Student, University of North Carolina at Pembroke

 Langston Hughes was brought into this world in 1902 in Goblin, Missouri. Hughes 
 was born into a family that had a very respected history.  "His grandfather, James 
 Mercer Langston was the first black American to be elected to public office in 
 1855" (Truffles 1) and his father was a successful lawyer.  It was quite natural 
 that Hughes would place his mark in the Langston's family history. Langston 
 Hughes was one of the most skillful writers of his time.  He was multitalented with 
 the pen because during the Harlem Renaissance he contributed well written poems,  short stories, plays and sketches. Like many successful writers Langston had to  endure both pain and heart aches in order to reach peak. At the age of seven his parents divorced and he was left to live with his grandmother.  His grandmother  raised him up until the time of her death.  Langston was only twelve years old when his grandmother passed away, however it was at this age when he moved with his mother and her husband to Lincoln, Illinois.  While attending high school in Illinois Hughes began to develop his passion for writing.  "After graduation Langston attended college at Columbia University to study engineering but soon dropped out to pursue his first love, poetry."(Trusell 1)

During Langston's poetic pursuit he would often write about things that was going on in the world during that particular time.  For instance in his first piece of literature that was published in The Crisis he wrote a poem about the Mississippi River call "The Negro Speaks of Rivers." After traveling to Africa and other parts of the world Langston found his home in Harlem.  During this particular time in Harlem African Americans where making their marks in history.  This period was know as the Harlem Renaissance.  Harlem was the perfect place for Langeston because in this city African Americans began showing  the world that they too where skilled in the arts, poetry, music and dance.  His first book of poetry that he had published was entitled , The Weary Blues.  This was only the beginning because Hughes wrote or edited more than 50 books. In 1967 after all his hard work was done Hughes died of Cancer.  Even though he is no longer here physically his works of  literature and art will live forever. 
 

Bibliography

Jeff Truffles. "Langston Hughes". Internet. Http://www.myhero.com/poets.hughes.asp. pg 1-4

This website gives a brief and concise summary of the life of Langtson Hughes and his accomplishments. It points all the major events that were important in the development of his career.

"The African American Journey: Hughes, Langston" Internet.http://www.worldbook.com/fun/ajourny/html/bho7o.html. pg 1-2

This website explains the life and death of Langston Hughes.  It also points out some of his major novels, short stories, plays and poems. 

Poetry Exhibits. "Langston Hughes". Internet. http://www.poets.org/poets/poets.cfm?prmID84. pg 1-3

This website goes more in detail in explaining the life of Langston Hughes.  It lists all his major works and places in them in the appropriate categories.
 

• The Weary Blues (1926)
•  The Big Sea (1940)
• Not Without Laughter (1930) 
• Masters of the Dew by J. Roumain (1947) With M. Cook 
• Mulatto (1935)

• Poet
• Novelist
• Artist
• Play Writer

• Grandfather: James Mercer Langston, the first black American to be elected to public office in 1855
• Father: A Lawyer

Homes

• Goblin, Missouri
• Lincoln, Illinois
• Mexico
• Harlem, New York

Chronology

• 1902 Born in Goblin, Missouri, 
• 1909 moved with Grandmother after parents divorced until the age of 12
• 1914 Grandmother dies
• 1916 moved to Lincoln, Illinois, to live with his mother and her husband
• 1921 "The Negro Speaks of Rivers" was printed in The Crisis.
• 1923 joined the crew of a ship sailing for Africa 
• 1924, moved to Harlem, New York
• 1926 First book of poetry, The Weary Blues published
• 1929 finished college education at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania
• 1967 Hughes dies of Cancer and his  residence in Harlem was given landmark status
• 1969 the Langston Hughes Community Library and Cultural Center opened.