HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LANGSTON HUGHES!

     

 James Mercer Langston Hughes (February 1, 1902 - May 22, 1967) 

was an American poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, 

and columnist from Joplin, Missouri.

He was one of the earliest innovators of the then-new literary art form called jazz poetry. He was the voice of the Harlem Renaissance. He was my introduction to the Harlem Renaissance about twenty years ago. I had never heard of the Harlem Renaissance. Please read his poems - they are amazing! If you do a search, you can also find recordings of Langston reading his own poetry.
Partially borrowed from Wikipedia

 

 

You may have seen or read Lorraine Hansberry's 

groundbreaking play - 

A Raisin in the Sun. 

Did you know that the title comes from a poem 

by Langston Hughes entitled "Harlem"? 

Harlem 

by Langston Hughes

What happens to a dream deferred?

      Does it dry up

      like a raisin in the sun?

      Or fester like a sore—

      And then run?

      Does it stink like rotten meat?

      Or crust and sugar over—

      like a syrupy sweet?

      Maybe it just sags

      like a heavy load.

      Or does it explode? 

 

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Finding Langston by Lesa-Cline Ransome