Langston Hughes, the iconic Harlem Renaissance poet, playwright and novelist, and aptly known as the Poet Laureate of his generation, has made an indelible impact on modern culture. Born in Joplin, Missouri, in 1902, he grew up in a family of mixed ancestry, with a white father, who left when he was only two and a black mother, who first taught him to read. Langston’s flair for writing soon became apparent at a relatively young age, as in 1911 he published his first poem in a nationally read children’s magazine.
Moving to Cleveland, Ohio, in 1916, he attended Central High School there, which had the first African American literary club. This was no doubt a major influence on his passion for creative writing. During this time, Langston published poetry and his first literary essays. He also wrote a piece of journalism for the school newspaper, Undergraduate, commenting on racial prejudice in the local high schools.
In 1921, Langston’s essay, ‘The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain’, a poignant story of racial and cultural experience, was published by The Nation Magazine. In it, Langston wrote “We younger Negro artists who create now desire to express our individual dark-skinned selves without fear and without shame”. His courage and honest expression had an enduring influence and inspired other African American artists to follow his lead in expressing their own creativity.
In the 1930s, Langston was a respected leader of the Harlem Renaissance and was recognized by art critics and an impressive list of prominent literary figures, including the now legendary Zora Neale Hurston, one of the most important African American women writers of the time.
Langston Hughes worked hard to bring together many aspects of his identity – artist, socialist, Christian, and black – something that was not easy in a world that saw them as separate. He wrote numerous Ballets, novels, short stories and plays expressing his unique viewpoint of soulful and rooted African American identity no longer silenced by oppressive white standards.
He re-introduced African American speech into mainstream literature and for his creation of the Harlem Renaissance style, became known as the Advocate for Black Arts .He was prominent amongst the explosion of creative expression that was taking place in the mid-1930s, a period of cultural protest and exaltation of race, traditions and customs.
His work became so extensive that he eventually became known as America’s first black voice – a continued reminder of what remained neglected by the traditional literary cannon. He achieved much success during his lifetime, even winning the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award in 1940 and the Spingarn Medal in 1942. His influence was so important that President Obama declared April 20th Langston Hughes day.
Social Outreach
Putting activism at the heart of his art, Langston Hughes was an integral part of the social justice movement. He wrote extensively about his black brotherhood, racism, civil rights and the discriminatory nature of society. In the proceeding years, his words have been used by Martin Luther King and Malcolm X to express the common struggles of racial oppression felt by African Americans.
In fact, one of Langston’s most famous works ‘Let America be America Again’ offered a powerful critique of the American Dream and highlighted the injustices endured by many. The poem immediately became part of the nation’s conscience and is still quoted today as a reminder of the hardships faced by African Americans.
Langston also supported the feminist cause by creating the play ‘Mule Bone’ with his longtime friend and literary adversary, Zora Neale Hurston. The production was presented on Broadway in October 1931 and highlighted the strength of black women and their struggles against social inequality of their time.
Legacy
Langston Hughes’ legacy lives on today through his work. His writing speaks to a bygone era of slavery and racial segregation, yet still has great relevance today as cultural norms continue to develop and evolve. His works inspire people of all backgrounds and was and still is a major influence to many prominent African American poets, writers and artists.
His poetry has been collected and published in books, anthologies and scholarly journals, while it has also been set to jazz and blues music, thus bringing his words to life.
Langston Hughes’ work has left an incredible mark on the literary world and continues to inspire writers and activists across the globe – and will no doubt continue to do so for many generations to come.
Influence Beyond Literature
It would be wrong not to mention Langston’s influence beyond literature. He wrote lyrics for a number of musical works, featuring in productions such as The Ways of White Folks,Black Nativity and the musical revue Simply Heavenly, which revolutionised the idea of African-Americans performing on the Broadway stage.
Surprisingly, he even held various Hollywood roles, such as an adviser for the film adaptation of his novel Not Without Laughter. He worked with a variety of production companies and directors, helping to create works that authentically drew from his African-American identity.
In doing so, he embraced the wider aspects of his identity, challenging cultural taboos and presenting the idea of black creativity in meaningful and unexpected ways.
Impact on the Civil Rights Movement
Following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, Langston changed his focus to wartime life and the status of civil rights. His works included topics such as black equality and the common struggles of everyday people, including the unfortunate victims of racism and war.
His pieces ‘Fight for Freedom: An Address’ and ‘Jim Crow’s Last Stand’ were vital contributions to the civil rights movement. Langston deplored anti-Negro prejudice and revealed the ugly truths of racial segregation, drawing attention to the struggles of millions of African-Americans in everyday life.
When the civil rights movement began to gain traction in the 1950s, Langston was already a major player in advocating for civil rights. He was strongly encouraged by the NAACP and actively involved in campaigns to break down the divides in racial injustice.
Impact on Contemporary Culture
More recently, artists such as Alex Lamar, Terrance Hayes and Alicia Keys, have all acknowledged the influence Langston has had on their work. His words and ideas continue to resonate strongly with modern society, even in our current global climate with the increasing prevalence of racial injustice.
Langston’s work appears in modern culture too, with books such as The Blacker the Berry and The Heart of a Woman being filmed. His seminal novel Not Without Laughter has even been adapted into both a movie and a musical.
In all, this just demonstrates how relevant Langston’s cultural legacy continues to be, despite being written more than a century ago.
