Test Questions How old was Langston Hughes when his first poem was published? What was the title of the book that he wrote in 1929? What Chicago-based magazine criticized Langston Hughes as “low-rate”?
Langston Hughes 1902-1967 Photo by Carl Van Vechten
Background Information Parents divorced when young Raised mostly by grandmother Began writing poetry early Job on freighter took him to: Africa & Spain
Education – Not Always Formal Attended Columbia University for one year Left to travel Saw: Italy France Russia
On scholarship Attended and graduated from Lincoln University in Pennsylvania
His work of the 1920s Poetry and Literature of Langston Hughes
Inspired by Carl Sandburg Walt Whitman
1920 “The Negro Speaks of Rivers” 19 years old Gave him attention
1925 “The Weary Blues”
1927 Fine Clothes to the Jew A collection of poetry Mixed reviews
Negative Criticism of his book The Chicago Whip characterized Langston Hughes as “the poet low-rate of Harlem.” Others called the book: a disgrace to the race a return to the dialect tradition a parading of all our racial defects before the public
He criticized the critics for: being ashamed of their race trying to please the race majority shaming other authors into denying themselves
1929 Not Without Laughter First novel Semi-autobiography
Works Cited "Langston Hughes Biography." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, 14 Jan. 2014. Web. 14 Jan. 2014. "Langston Hughes." : The Poetry Foundation. Poetry Foundation, 14 Jan. 2014. Web. 14 Jan. 2014. Hughes, Langston. The Big Sea: An Autobiography. New York: Hill and Wang, 1963. Print. Rampersad, Arnold. "Hughes's Life and Career." The Oxford Companion to African American Literature. 1997. English.illinois.edu/. University of Illinois Board of Trustees, 27 Aug. 2008. Web. 20 Jan. 2014. Fleming, Raychel. "Illuminated Text Project- The Weary Blues by Langston Hughes."YouTube. YouTube, 30 May 2013. Web. 20 Jan. 2014.