Langston Hughes

Langston Hughes Early Life §was born February 1, 1902 §parents divorced when he was young §raised by his grandmother until age of 13 §settled with mother and her husband in Cleveland, Ohio §spent a year after graduation in Mexico with his father §attended Columbia University in New York

§first began writing poetry in high school §loved to read and wanted to recreate the powerful impact of the written word §graduated in 1920; first poem published in 1921 §left college to travel §returned to college in Lincoln University, first African American college

§First book of Poetry, The Weary Blues, published in 1926 §first novel, Not Without Laughter,published in 1930 §wrote novels, short stories, plays, poetry §known for insightful, colorful portrayals of black life in America from the 1920s to 1960s

Harlem Renaissance 1920s-1930s §period of cultural and artistic “rebirth” in African American culture §explosion of creativity in art, music, and literature §centered in Harlem, a section of New York City §Langston Hughes was a significant part of this movement