The Verbose Insomniacs
Langston Hughes
"A Renaissance Man"
Biography (1902-1967)
Hughes was greatly inspired by jazz music!
Fast Facts:
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Hughes was primarily raised by his grandmother, since his parents were divorced. After his grandmother's death, Hughes moved around a lot, living with his mother.
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Right out of high school in 1921, Hughes published his first work, "The Negro Speaks of Rivers."
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Hughes quit his schooling at Columbia University to work as a steward on a freighter, traveling around Europe and Africa.
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In 1925, while working as a waiter in Washington DC, Hughes slipped 3 of his poems onto Vachel Lindsay's plate. Soon after, Hughes became famous, because of the positive review Lindsay published.
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In 1926, Hughes published his first collection of poetry The Weary Blues.
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Later on, Hughes was so popular that he recieved a scholarship to return to school, and finish his education.
The Negro Speaks of Rivers
Refugee in America
Dream Variations
I, Too
Watch a video about Langston Hughes and his contributions to America.
Background
"The Negro Speaks of Rivers" is Hughes' first great poem. He published it in 1921, fresh out of high school. Greatly admiring Walt Whitman, Hughes made his poem follow the format of "Song of Myself."
Synopsis
The speaker says that he has seen many old dusky rivers. His soul has grown and become vast, like the large rivers. At the beginnings of mankind, he had seen the Euphrates. He has also built a home near the Congo. He saw the Nile River, while forced to build pyramids in Egypt. Lastly, he saw the Mississippi, and how splendid it seemed when Abraham Lincoln abolished slavery.
Analysis / Effect
In this poem Hughes utilized pauses to draw more attention to specific lines, and a first person speaker to represent the black community. Since the beginnings of man, blacks have had a diverse history in many places. Although the experiences have not been all pleasant, their history adds to their character. Hughes was trying to tell African Americans to accept and embrace their heritage. This led to a huge surge of black pride.
Langston Hughes reading and giving commentary on his poem.
Background
"I, Too" was written in response to Walt Whitman's "I Hear America Singing." In the poem, Whitman states how he hears different people doing their jobs (singing) to make one united America. However, Hughes feels as though Whitman has forgotten to include African Americans in this view.
Synopsis
The speaker says that he, too is a part of the collaborative America. He is an African American. Because of this, he is forced to eat separately from other people. He doesn't argue it though, and continues to grow stronger each day. One day, he will get to eat with company, and no one will question it. People will see how great he really is, and feel ashamed for treating him so poorly.
Style:
Langston Hughes wrote plays, fiction, musicals, autobiographies, screenplays, poems, and essays. Through these works, Hughes helped lead the Harlem Renaissance. Many of his works called for African Americans to express themselves with pride. Often he utilized a first person speaker to represent a whole community, in order to convey this message. Also, Hughes tremendously enjoyed and was isnpired by music of the Harlem Renaissance. In some of his poems, he tried to recreate the rhythms of jazz and blues music.
Analysis / Effect
"I, Too" recognizes that blacks are also Americans. They are contributing to the country, but not as positively as Walt Whitman sees. Hughes draws attention to the discrimination blacks faced. However, he knows that eventually African Americans will perservere, and one day be truly equal. This poem helped raise awareness of African Americans' situation. Also, it gave blacks a sense of hope and pride. The poem has even inspired movies, like The Help and The Great Debaters.
Background
During Hughes' time, African Americans faced tremendous amounts of discrimination. Since slavery began in the United States, blacks were forced to work tirelessly to no avail of improving conditions. They faced insane discrimination for quite some time in the country, before progress for equality was made.
Synopsis
The speaker says how he dreams of dancing and running somewhere under the warm sun all day long. Then, as the cool evening approaches, they would rest. After a blissful day, he would take comfort in the night, as it is dark similar to his skin color.
Analysis / Effect
"Dream Variations" represents a common dream held by all African Americans. It expressed a sense of longing for simplicity, peace, and freedom. All African Americans wanted was to co-exist contently with whites (symbolized by the bright day). The poem drew attention to the unfair measures that blacks were subjected to. Also, it brought comfort to African Americans helping realize they were not fighting alone for this dream.
Background
Slavery lasted from 1619 to 1865 in the United States. Afterwards though, African Americans faced racism and discrimination. Detrimental groups, like the KKK, formed to prolong their advancement in society. Slowly African Americans gained more liberties, like being able to vote in 1870. Although less servere, African Americans were still treated quite poorly with segreagation and derogatory actions. It was almost like every African American was a refugee that needed to be saved from the "land of the free."
freedom- the state of not being imprisoned or enslaved
liberty- the state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions imposed by authority on one's way of life, behavior, or political views
Synopsis
The speaker discusses how "freedom" is a lovely sounding word and concept. He is forever grateful for his freedom. However, the word "liberty" makes the speaker depressed. He justifies his reactions by saying that if one knew his struggles, they would understand.
Analysis / Effect
Although African Americans have been freed from slavery, they still faced immense amounts of discrimination within society. The poem shows the emotional upheaval that resulted from being free, but unequal in one's own country. "Refugee in America" creates empathy for African Americans, especially in the last two lines.
They traded your chains for ropes.