Background Information
Langston Hughes was an American poet, playwright, and novelist, who pushed the boundaries of art in the African American community during the Harlem Renaissance in the 1920s and 1930s. He wrote about many topics, including Civil Rights, racial inequality, and the political environment. Langston Hughes’s use of imagery and language provided readers with an intimate insight into his thoughts and feelings and his experience as a black man in America. He is an important part of the Harlem Renaissance and an influential voice in 20th century literature.
Favorite Color
The exact favorite color of the iconic poet, Langston Hughes, is unknown. However, evidence points to blue, green and black as the colors Hughes most commonly used and associated with. Hughes’ close friendship with artist Romare Bearden provides insight into his favorite colors as well.
The Color Blue
While there are no records of Hughes naming a favorite color, his poem “Let America Be America Again” does mention the color blue multiple times. He refers to the “blue-sky dreaming”, “blue of cloudless days”, and the “blue waters of rest”. Even more interesting is Hughes’ “Homage to F.S.F.” which uses the color blue to describe a woman who does not appear to be alive anymore. In the poem, Hughes writes about a woman’s lifeless skin, calling it “blue”. The woman’s hair is also noted to be blue, indicating Hughes associated the color blue with both life and death.
The Color Green
The poem “Harlem” also contains a reference to the color green. Hughes writes, “Does it dry up/ like a raisin in the sun?/ Or fester like a sore –/ And then run?/ Does it stink like rotten meat?/ Or crust and sugar over –/ like a syrupy sweet?” In the poem, Hughes makes a comparison between a raisin drying up and “crusting and sugaring over”, associating the color green with life and growth. He also associates the color green with a bright hopeful future in “Let America Be America Again”.
The Color Black
Hughes also often used the color black in his poems. He often mentions a “black night” or a “black sky”. An example of this is found in his poem “Merry-Go-Round”, where Hughes uses the phrase “The merry-go-round turns in the black night”. The reference to the color black creates an ominous, depressing feeling that suits the theme of the poem. It could be inferred that Hughes associated the color black with feelings of hopelessness and despair.
Romare Bearden
Hughes’ close friendship with artist Romare Bearden could also provide insight into Hughes’ favorite colors. Throughout his career, Bearden often incorporated bright, vibrant colors into his artwork. His works often feature blues, greens, and purples, and often utilized textures and patterns to emphasize the vividness of the colors. Bearden’s vibrant use of color could have influenced Hughes, leading him to associate the colors with life and growth more than despair and death.
Interpretation
It is clear from Hughes’ poems that he had strong associations with each of the colors blue, green, and black. His poems often used the colors to create a feeling of despair or a feeling of hope and growth. It is likely that each of these colors held a special meaning for Hughes, and he may have favored one over the other. As Hughes did not name a favorite color, it is not possible to know exactly what his favorite color was.
Influence
Hughes’ interpretations of color have influenced many in the African American community. Hughes’ poetry has often been used as inspiration for artwork, and his words have been embraced by the hip hop and rap community today. While Hughes established a distinct use of color in his work, his use of color has come to represent the experiences of African Americans, and his influence is still seen today.
Social Commentary
It is likely that Hughes’ use of color was a form of social commentary. Throughout his writing, Hughes was critical of the racial inequality and lack of civil rights in the United States, and his use of color could be seen as an expression of his views. Colors such as green and blue often appear in Hughes’ work to represent life and hope, while black often represents despair and hopelessness. His statements on the difference between life and death in the African American community were often evoked by his contrasting use of color.
Legacy
Today, Langston Hughes remains an iconic figure in the African American community. His works still serve as an inspiration for many in the community, and his use of color has taken on a life of its own. While Hughes did not name a favorite color, it is clear that the colors blue, green, and black remain an important part of his legacy, and his interpretations of these colors have become a source of power and inspiration for many.
