Langston Hughes Research Paper

ENC 1102 CRN-20824
04 February 2014

How to See through the Eyes of a Negro
At certain points during his time, Langston Hughes was considered a "racial chauvinist" by many. During the Harlem Renaissance, Hughes ' work was widely appreciated but also criticized by many. He was not afraid to speak about his political views through his works. He was a proud African American and lived by the theme "Black is Beautiful" (Langston). "The height of his fame, Langston Hughes (1902-67) was esteemed as 'Shakespeare in Harlem ', a sobriquet he borrowed for the title of a 1942 volume of poems" (Sundquist). Langston Hughes was more than just a poet, novelist, playwright and columnist; he was a visionary in displaying
African American politics,
and was a formidable blueprint and base model for future Black writers of the 21 st Century.
Langston Hughes could not be classified as just a poet. While in grammar school,
Hughes ' poetry timeline began when he was elected to be the class poet. Hughes stated that in retrospect he thought it was because of the stereotype that African Americans have rhythm.
"During high school in Cleveland, he wrote for the school newspaper, edited the yearbook, and began to write his first short stories, poetry, and dramatic plays" (Langston). Around the same time in high school, Hughes began to create a new form of poetry called "Jazz Poetry". His earliest work in this form of poetry was "When Sue Wears Red". With the new style of poetry that he created he began to add a new risky task for the typical poetry writer. Keeping the flow of a poem in Jazz Poetry was not an easy task. Jazz Poetry was a very difficult form to master.
Hughes was one of the few that attempted and succeeded a lot more than others. When mixing

Blues quality and performance with a poetic base some people lose the genuine Blues feeling but
Hughes solved that problem on many occasions
(Chinitz).
Now within this same Jazz Poetry or Blues Poetry that he created was a newly found outlet for his political views for the African American society. In 1920, Langston Hughes wanted to go to Columbia University to study Literature and be close to the Harlem Renaissance. His father did not share Hughes ' enthusiasms for writing and would assist in his Columbia education financially ifhe agreed to study engineering. Hughes agreed only so he could have the chance to study at Columbia University (Kepner). "He left in 1922 because of racial prejudice, and his interests revolved more around the neighborhood of Harlem than his studies, though he continued writing poetry" (Langston). As Hughes ' career in writing grew he became more and more outspoken with his political views. He found ways to depict his political standpoints in his artwork. His works were respected during the Civil Rights ' movement as a clear review of the current stand point of African Americans (Langston). Hughes ' poem "Mother to Son" was viewed by critics as a religious and racially focused poem. The poem embodies the outer body experience of poetry reading by placing the reader in a racist society in a sense (Explanation).
"Politics can be the graveyard of the poet. And only poetry can be his resurrection," Hughes would later write (Sundquist).
With his creation of poetry as an outlet for his disgust with racial inequalities Hughes set a standard for future black poets to come. He dared to speak out and attempt to show the world what can be seen through the eyes of a Black man in America. Even past the critics and disapprovals, Langston still earned a solid place in not only Black history but in literature as well. "Because he dared to appropriate sensual, spontaneous music as his inspiration and to write about bohemian, urban types--dancers,

lovers, musicians, and, repeatedly, prostitutes-Hughes

was castigated by the black bourgeoisie" (Dace).
Very few writers are able to become a household name. Hughes was one of the few as he was considered one of the most significant
African American writers of the Harlem Renaissance period. His work influenced many future creative figures of generations beyond that of his own (Miller).
African Americans needed a voice during the Harlem Renaissance and Langston Hughes did his best to create one. He dared to be more than just a poet and playwright. He tested the game of poetry and created a new form while inserting the voice of his people through those works. Not many can say they have dared to test the limits in his time and were still able to earn a spot forever known in history. Langston Hughes was that man. Whether it was his views against African Americans being involved in the current war or his standpoints with racial inequality, Hughes dared to be bold. He dared to take a chance in the ocean of politics of his time and his poetry kept him afloat.

Works Cited

1. Chinitz, David. "Literacy and Authenticity: The Blues Poems of Langston Hughes."
Callaloo 19.1 (Winter 1996): 177-192. Rpt. in Poetry Criticism. Ed. Timothy J.
Sisler.
Vol. 53. Detroit: Gale, 2004. Literature Resource Center. Web. 21 Jan. 2014.

2. Dace, Tish. "The Weary Blues: Overview." Reference Guide to American Literature. Ed.
Jim Kamp. 3rd ed. Detroit: St. James Press, 1994.Literature Resource Center. Web. 19
Jan. 2014.

3. "Explanation of: 'Mother to Son ' by Langston Hughes." LitFinder Contemporary
Collection. Detroit: Gale, 2007. LitFinder. Web. 22 Jan. 2014.

4. Kepner, Jim. "Langston Hughes: Overview." Gay & Lesbian Literature. Vol. 1. Detroit:
Gale, 1994. Literature Resource Center. Web. 19 Jan. 2014.

5. "Langston Hughes." LitFinder Contemporary Collection. Detroit: Gale, 2007. LitFinder.
Web. 22 Jan. 2014.

6. "Langston Hughes" Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 22
July 2004. Web. 19 Jan. 2014.

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7. Miller, R. Baxter. "(James) Langston Hughes." Afro-American Writers From the Harlem
Renaissance to 1940. Ed. Trudier Harris-Lopez and Thadious M. Davis. Detroit: Gale
Research, 1987. Dictionary of Literary Biography Vol. 51. Literature Resource Center.
Web. 22 Jan. 2014.
8. Sundquist, Eric 1. "Who was Langston Hughes?" Commentary 102.6 (1996): 55+.
Literature Resource Center. Web. 22 Jan. 2014.