J ames Mercer Langston Hughes was an American poet‚ social activist‚ novelist‚ playwright‚ and columnist from Joplin‚ Missouri. He was one of the earliest innovators of the then-new literary art form called jazz poetry. He was first recognized as an important literary figure during the 1920s‚ a period known as the Harlem Renaissance. This short poem is one of Hughes’s most famous works; it is likely the most common Langston Hughes poem taught in American schools. Hughes wrote "Harlem" in 1951‚ and
Premium Langston Hughes African American Harlem Renaissance
Langston Hughes’s writing showcases a variety of themes and moods‚ and his distinguished career led his biographer‚ Arnold Rampersad‚ to describe him as "perhaps the most representative black American writer." Many of his poems illustrate his role as a spokesman for African American society and the working poor. In others‚ he relates his ideas on the importance of heritage and the past. Hughes accomplishes this with a straightforward‚ easily understandable writing style that clearly conveys his
Premium
During the Harlem Renaissance white art enthusiast aided the development of black artist‚ by funding these artists. The Blues I’m Playing by Langston Hughes is a short story where a young African American pianist‚ Oceola Jones‚ who studies music under the patronage of Dora Ellsworth. Dora is a wealthy‚ white middle aged‚ widow with no children. Langston Hughes uses this connection between these characters to express the meaning of the blues. The meaning blues isn’t very clear until the very end
Premium African American Langston Hughes Harlem Renaissance
In “Let America be America Again”‚ Langston Hughes speaks on his opinions of the American Dream. Throughout the poem‚ Hughes compares his hopes and dreams for America with the reality of life for those outside of certain cultural‚ religious‚ and societal groups. This is a dramatic and diverse poem‚ fluctuating from peaceful moments to angry explosions. The author starts by mentioning of the key vision of America‚ where there is the hope for liberty and equality. Yet for the oppressed races‚ American
Premium United States American Civil War Slavery in the United States
All poems consist of something their writers are passionate about‚ much like how fingerprints are completely unique‚ but the entire human race has one. Most poems could also have double meanings. For instance‚ the poem “ Fire - Caught ” by Langston Hughes could have multiple meanings‚ like someone giving into temptation‚ the actual connection of a moth and a fire‚ or it could be a telling story about someone falling for something too good to be true. In the poem “ Fire - Caught ” it tells the
Premium Poetry Stanza Love
First‚ Hughes uses repetition in the poem. He repeats‚ “I’se still climbing” at the beginning‚ and towards the end. By repeating this‚ the mother is ensuring herself that her son understands that life is tough‚ and her still fighting her way through life supports her claim of “Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair”. This repetition creates the raw style. Even though many challenging events passed between these two lines‚ from the beginning to the end‚ such as “going through the dark”‚ the son‚
Premium Poetry English-language films Langston Hughes
Langston Hughes‚ The Negro Artist and Racial Mountain‚ is about some Negro artists want to be a recognize as regular artist but not a “Negro” artist. To illustrate the scenario‚ Hughes mention a young Negro artist told him about his dream becoming great but want to have same privileges a white artist‚ specifically‚ being called an artist than a Negro artist. Hughes explains that Negroes being compared to white people is messing up Negros’ identities and how other Negroes are doing the same thing
Premium Black people African American Race
of man’s appearance is quite different within a verity of social structures and cultural aspects. In this paper I would like to show controversial biographies of two classic writers‚ Emily Dickinson and Langston Hughes; their interpretation of our not always understandable world. Dickinson and Hughes are very different writers by their style and problems‚ which they portray through their writings. However‚ there is one characteristic common for both‚ it is deep ideas in their writing style that makes
Premium African American Jazz Blues
"Thank You M’am" by Langston Hughes is a realistic fiction short story about a scrawny boy named Roger and a black lady named Mrs. Jones. After Roger attempts to steal Mrs. Jones money to buy shoes she handles the matter herself by kicking him to the ground. She then takes him to her house‚ cleans him up‚ feeds him‚ and teaches him right from wrong. Langston Hughes‚ the author of "Thank You M’am"‚ teaches us that you should give people second chances. You can tell the second chance Mrs. Jones gave
Premium Woman Love Short story
“Let America Be America Again” by Langston Hughes His tone in the poem also contributes to the meaning. His tone seems almost confessional‚ like the poet is talking about his own experience in America. Hughes points out all the flaws in the ideas of equal opportunity and freedom in his poem. Then periodically he speaks to the reader outright with lines such as‚ "O‚ yes‚ I say it plain‚ America never was America to me‚ And yet I swear this oath-- America will be!" Speaking outright to the reader
Premium Question Rhetorical question Anaphora