Early Life and Education
Langston Hughes is best remembered as an important figure in the Harlem Renaissance, but his career began long before then. He was born in 1902 in Joplin, Missouri, to parents who separated shortly after his birth. His father moved away and he was raised primarily by his mother, who supported them both by working as a nurse. Hughes graduated from Central High School in Cleveland, Ohio in 1920 and shortly afterwards he enrolled at Columbia University.
Time at Columbia University
At Columbia University, Hughes began writing poetry and his works were soon being published in magazines, journals and newspapers. However, the expenses at Columbia were too high for him, and he dropped out after a year. After this, he moved to a predominantly black neighborhood in Washington, D.C. where he worked as a busboy, a porter and taught classes at a YMCA.
Time at Lincoln University
In 1921, Hughes enrolled at Lincoln University, a private, historically black college in Chester County, Pennsylvania. He found Lincoln to be a place where he felt accepted, where he could be around people like him, and where he could truly express himself and his work. He would often spend his time writing in the library, which was a place of comfort and refuge for him. He graduated with a BA in 1929.
Influences and Impact
Though Hughes was primarily associated with the Harlem Renaissance, his poetic genius, which is characterized as modernist, was highly influential in both its own time period, as well as into the present. During his time at Lincoln University, Hughes wrote ‘The Weary Blues’ which won first prize in Opportunity magazine’s literary competition and established him as one of the leading voices of the Harlem Renaissance. In 1932, he published his first novel, Not Without Laughter. It won the Harmon gold medal for literature and was a great success.
Challenges Faced
Hughes faced a lot of racism during his time in school and his career. He was often made to feel inferior to his white peers and keenly felt the discrimination from people of higher positions. But he never let this stop him from pursuing the things he was passionate about. Instead, he used his writing to highlight the struggles faced by African Americans.
Conclusion of Career
By the end of his career, Hughes was a successful poet, novelist and playwright. He wrote over 25 books and became an important voice of the Harlem Renaissance. He also wrote several notable plays, which were performed in New York and Washington, and many of his works were adapted into films. He passed away in 1967, but his works are still widely read and studied, and he is remembered as one of the foremost writers of the 20th century.
Legacy
Hughes left behind a vast and impressive body of work, which has had a lasting impact on African American literature, culture, and history. He left behind a legacy of courage and strength in the face of adversity. He was a leader in the art of modern poetry and is credited as one of the major innovators in the use of language in literature. His work has been studied by many, and can be seen as a powerful and evocative way of expressing the experience of the African American.
Influence on Other Writers
Hughes’ work has had a lasting influence on countless writers, and he is widely discussed in classrooms and literary circles. He has often been called an innovator and a master of language, whose influence had a direct impact on writings by other African Americans. He was a conscious writer and social commentator, and his works were often direct in their observations and critiques.
Memorials and Honors
In memory of Hughes’ impact, there are multiple memorials and honors dedicated to him throughout his lifetime and beyond. In 1989, the elementary school in Joplin, Missouri, where he grew up, was renamed Langston Hughes Elementary School, and in 2002 a Langston Hughes Library was opened in Topeka, Kansas. In 2008, he was honored with a commemorative U.S. postage stamp, and in 2016, The Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery included him in their exhibit Honoring the Harlem Renaissance.
Encouragement for Future Writers
Throughout his career, Hughes remained an outspoken advocate for creative expression and pushed for greater representation of African Americans in literature. He believed that the struggle for equal rights had to start with creative expression and art. He encouraged young black writers to continue developing their craft and to use their writing as a form of protest, a way to speak truth to power and to help further the cause of black liberation.
