Langston Hughes - Introduction and Biography

                James Langston Hughes was born on February 1, 1902 in Joplin, Missouri.  He was a member of an abolitionist family.  He was the great-great-grandson of Charles Henry Langston, brother of John Mercer Langston, who was the first Black American to be elected to public office in 1855.  He lived with his grandmother all of his life. Hughes felt hurt by both his mother and his father, and was unable to understand why he was not allowed to live with either of them. These feelings of rejection caused him to grow up very insecure and unsure of himself.  Hughes attended Central High School in Cleveland, Ohio.  In the 8^th grade he began writing poetry and he was elected as Class Poet.  Hughes’ father didn’t think he would be able to make a living at writing so he encouraged him to pursue a more practical career.  His father paid for his tuition at Columbia University on the grounds that he would study engineering.  Hughes dropped out of the program after a short period of time with a B+ average.  The entire time that he was at the University he continued to write poetry.  The first poem that he published was “The Negro Speaks of Rivers” which appeared in Brownie’s Book.  His poems, short plays, essays and short stories later appeared in the NAACP publication Crisis Magazine and in Opportunity Magazine.  One of his favorite pastimes was sitting in the clubs listening to blues, jazz and writing poetry.  In 1924 he returned to Harlem, the period known as the Harlem Renaissance.  His work was repeatedly published and his writing prospered during this period.  Later, Hughes received a scholarship to Lincoln University in Pennsylvania, where he received his B.A. degree in 1929.  He was a productive writer.  He devoted his life to writing and lecturing.  Langston wrote sixteen books of poems, two novels, three collections of short stories, four volumes of “editorial” and “documentary” fiction, twenty plays, children’s poetry, musicals and operas, three autobiographies, a dozen radio and television scripts and dozens of magazine articles.  He also edited seven anthologies.  Money was an issue throughout his life.  He did manage to support himself as a writer which was by no means a small task.  He was never financially secure.  Langston Hughes died on May 22, 1967 from cancer after having abdominal surgery.  His residence at 20 East 127^th Street in Harlem, New York has been given landmark status by the New York Preservation Commission.  The entire block of 127^th Street was renamed “Langston Hughes Place.”                              

              

"Langston Hughes Biography: African-American History: Crossing Boundaries: Kansas Humanities Council." Kansas Heritage Group | Established 1993 | Kansas (KS) History, Old West KS, Cities, Museums, Art, Racing, Cowboy Cooking, Laughead Web. 22 Mar. 2011.