Black History Month
Mary E. Jimoh Black History Month Speech
February 1, 2014 Langston Hughes
In honor of Black History Month, I’ve selected Langston Hughes as the figure I would write about, because through his poetry; Hughes displayed to America, the world through the eyes of African Americans living in Harlem, in the rough 1920s. The poet, lyricist, author, playwright, and social activist, was born on February 1, 1902, in Joplin Missouri, to James Hughes and Carrie Langston. Unfortunately, the couple divorced shortly after his birth, leaving Hughes to be raised mainly by his grandmother. When she passed away, Hughes was sent to live with his mother. In search of better jobs, Hughes’ mother would often move, and the two moved to several cities before eventually settling in Cleveland, Ohio.
It was around the time Hughes moved to Cleveland that he started composing poetry. The teenager habitually submitted work to his school’s literary magazine, and was often rejected when he sent work to various poetry magazines. After Hughes graduated from Central High School in 1920, he spent one year with his father in Mexico. As he was traveling on the train to visit his father, he was inspired to write his very first poem, “The Negro speaks of a River”. Hughes was accepted into Columbia University in 1921, but dropped out the following year in pursuit of becoming a poet. He later attended the historically Black, Lincoln University from 1926-1929. Apart from using his poetry to show America the “Black Life”, Langston Hughes made some additional contributions to society. Hughes was a huge contributor to the Harlem Renaissance. Through his literature, Hughes inspired African-Americans to believe in themselves individually and as a community. Likewise, Hughes became one of the first African-Americans to write poetry that was appreciated by all races.
February 1, 2014 Langston Hughes
In honor of Black History Month, I’ve selected Langston Hughes as the figure I would write about, because through his poetry; Hughes displayed to America, the world through the eyes of African Americans living in Harlem, in the rough 1920s. The poet, lyricist, author, playwright, and social activist, was born on February 1, 1902, in Joplin Missouri, to James Hughes and Carrie Langston. Unfortunately, the couple divorced shortly after his birth, leaving Hughes to be raised mainly by his grandmother. When she passed away, Hughes was sent to live with his mother. In search of better jobs, Hughes’ mother would often move, and the two moved to several cities before eventually settling in Cleveland, Ohio.
It was around the time Hughes moved to Cleveland that he started composing poetry. The teenager habitually submitted work to his school’s literary magazine, and was often rejected when he sent work to various poetry magazines. After Hughes graduated from Central High School in 1920, he spent one year with his father in Mexico. As he was traveling on the train to visit his father, he was inspired to write his very first poem, “The Negro speaks of a River”. Hughes was accepted into Columbia University in 1921, but dropped out the following year in pursuit of becoming a poet. He later attended the historically Black, Lincoln University from 1926-1929. Apart from using his poetry to show America the “Black Life”, Langston Hughes made some additional contributions to society. Hughes was a huge contributor to the Harlem Renaissance. Through his literature, Hughes inspired African-Americans to believe in themselves individually and as a community. Likewise, Hughes became one of the first African-Americans to write poetry that was appreciated by all races.