Langston Hughes Early Life Essay
His Early Life:
Born on February 1, 1902 James Mercer Langston Hughes was an American poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist from Joplin, Missouri. His parents, James Hughes and Carrie Langston, divorced soon after his arrival, his father then moved to Mexico. Hughes’s mother moved often, leaving Lanston to live with his maternal grandmother, Mary, until she died in his early teens.From that point on, James went to live with his mother. Langston and his mother moved to several cities before eventually settling in Cleveland, Ohio. Around this time Hughes first began to write poetry, one of his teachers first introduced him to the poetry of Carl Sandburg and Walt Whitman, both whom Hughes would later cite as primary influences.Hughes was also a regular contributor to his school's magazine, and frequently submitted to other poetry …show more content…
In 1925 he had held the role of a busboy in a Washington, D.C. hotel restaurant. During his time working there he ran into American poet Vachel Lindsay. Hughes showed Lindsay several his poems. Vachel was so fascinated by Hughes that he decided to use his connections to promote James's work and ultimately expand his audience . In 1925, Hughes’s poem “The Weary Blues” won first prize in the Opportunity magazine literary competition. Because of this James also received a scholarship to attend Lincoln University. While studying at there, Hughes poetry came to the attention of well-known novelist and critic Carl Van Vechten, who used his influence to help get Hughes’s first book of poetry, The Weary Blues. The book had popular appeal and established both his poetic style and his commitment to black themes and heritage. Hughes was also among the first to use jazz rhythms and dialect to depict the life of urban African Americans in his work. He published a second poetry compilation named, Fine Clothes to the Jew, in
Born on February 1, 1902 James Mercer Langston Hughes was an American poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist from Joplin, Missouri. His parents, James Hughes and Carrie Langston, divorced soon after his arrival, his father then moved to Mexico. Hughes’s mother moved often, leaving Lanston to live with his maternal grandmother, Mary, until she died in his early teens.From that point on, James went to live with his mother. Langston and his mother moved to several cities before eventually settling in Cleveland, Ohio. Around this time Hughes first began to write poetry, one of his teachers first introduced him to the poetry of Carl Sandburg and Walt Whitman, both whom Hughes would later cite as primary influences.Hughes was also a regular contributor to his school's magazine, and frequently submitted to other poetry …show more content…
In 1925 he had held the role of a busboy in a Washington, D.C. hotel restaurant. During his time working there he ran into American poet Vachel Lindsay. Hughes showed Lindsay several his poems. Vachel was so fascinated by Hughes that he decided to use his connections to promote James's work and ultimately expand his audience . In 1925, Hughes’s poem “The Weary Blues” won first prize in the Opportunity magazine literary competition. Because of this James also received a scholarship to attend Lincoln University. While studying at there, Hughes poetry came to the attention of well-known novelist and critic Carl Van Vechten, who used his influence to help get Hughes’s first book of poetry, The Weary Blues. The book had popular appeal and established both his poetic style and his commitment to black themes and heritage. Hughes was also among the first to use jazz rhythms and dialect to depict the life of urban African Americans in his work. He published a second poetry compilation named, Fine Clothes to the Jew, in