Langston Hughes was a prominent figure in the Harlem Renaissance, a cultural movement that took place in the 1920s and 1930s. He was born James Langston Hughes on February 1, 1902, in Joplin, Missouri. His parents, James Nathaniel Hughes and Carrie Langston Hughes, divorced when he was young, and Hughes was raised by his grandmother in Lawrence, Kansas.
Hughes showed an early interest in writing, and his first poem was published in the Kansas City Times when he was just 13 years old. He attended high school in Ohio, where he excelled in literature and writing, and after graduating, he enrolled in Columbia University in New York City. However, he dropped out after just one year and decided to pursue a career as a writer.
Hughes moved to Washington D.C. and worked a variety of jobs, including as a busboy and a doorman, while writing in his spare time. In 1922, he published his first book of poetry, "The Weary Blues," which was well received and established him as a promising young talent. Hughes became a central figure in the Harlem Renaissance, a movement that celebrated African American culture and art, and he began to write more about his own experiences and the struggles of the African American community.
Hughes was known for his poetry, plays, and fiction, which often addressed social and political issues of the time. He wrote about the struggles of black Americans and the injustices they faced, and he was a strong advocate for civil rights and equality. In addition to his writing, Hughes was also involved in the civil rights movement and participated in various protests and demonstrations.
Throughout his career, Hughes received numerous awards and accolades for his work, including a Guggenheim Fellowship and the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award. He is considered one of the most important writers of the Harlem Renaissance and his work continues to be widely read and studied today.
Hughes died on May 22, 1967, in New York City, but his legacy lives on through his writing and his contributions to the civil rights movement. He is remembered as a pioneer of modern African American literature and a champion of social justice.
