Harlem Residency During Langston Hughes’ Tenure:
Langston Hughes’ ten-year residency in Harlem began in the late 1920s and is described as the era during which he produced some of his most prolific and appreciated works. Hughes, then a struggling artist, actor and writer, was drawn to the rich cultural history of Harlem and eventually made it his home. Before Hughes, Harlem had been largely a black neighbourhood where African-Americans descended from the South to start anew. During the new ‘Harlem Renaissance’, Hughes was able to express himself in music, literature and poetry, eventually becoming an icon of the creative movement. This was where he was able to explore the ideas of racial identity, beauty and humanity, and create something powerful with his words.
As a Black man in America, Hughes wanted to create a space of belonging. In his poetry, Hughes often expressed his sentiment that Blacks were restricted from participating in society and yet could not find a place amongst their own either. In his time in Harlem, Hughes was able to create a home in the locus of black culture in America. By engaging in his institution and community, he recognized that Blacks needed a space to express themselves and feel accepted in their own culture. He wrote about issues of racial injustice, power, equality and freedom in a way that galvanized his audience, and established himself as a leader in the creative culture of the time.
Hughes was a figure who provided a platform for many communities in Harlem. He was a central figure at parties, gatherings and lectures, providing a platform for other African-American writers, musicians and artists. He bought properties in the area, hosting special events and was even a regular at the Savoy ballroom on 141 Street. He was a symbol of rebellion, hope and progress in a country that had diligently worked to suppress their collective rights. His words and presence brought communities together, emboldened them and provided a sense of solace in a shortlived era of artistry. He was an embodiment of the spirit and passion of a people who had yet to find their footing in mainstream America.
While Hughes’ years in Harlem eventually ended, his legacy remained. He wrote about issues that still remained unresolved for African-Americans during the height of the Harlem Renaissance and today. He wrote about power disparities, racism, the plight of women and the African-American experience. His time in Harlem was a period of transformation, growth and influence. As much as it was his home, it was a space that he used to express his need for black representation and identity. His time in Harlem had a lasting influence on the cultural landscape of the United States and for a brief moment, he was able to accomplish his vision.
Hughes’ Relationship With The Harlem Community:
During Hughes’ time in Harlem, he was an integral part of the alternative black community and he felt deeply connected to the people of his adopted home. Hughes’ lack of formal education presented challenges in achieving his standing as an artist, but provided camaraderie among the rest of the residents who faced similar adversities. In embracing these challenges, Hughes seized the opportunity to embrace the culture of Harlem’s black community and create an alternative artistic social circle that likewise felt connected to him.
Naturally, Hughes’ residency in Harlem encompassed not only his own personal artistic endeavours but also a strong involvement in the larger black community. As a resident of Harlem, Hughes was also a regular participant in clubs, parties, and other social gatherings. He used these opportunities to showcase his poetry, plays and prose, and to express his views on the current state of black cultural identity. He also frequented lectures, fundraising events and rallies. He helped foster a sense of groupthink among the inhabitants of Harlem who viewed their neighbourhood as a perfect example of a self-sustaining black collective.
Hughes was a keen observer of the current socio-political situation in the United States and had first-hand experience of racism, economic deprivation and prejudice against his race. He was a prominent speaker at various public events during the Harlem Renaissance and his political stance gathered momentum and attention for the cause of black rights. As a representative, he stood for the oppressed people of Harlem and his words resounded throughout the area. His powerful prose and orations included issues of oppression, poverty and race.
He encountered multiple rejections from the traditional literary fraternity but his words carried far beyond his written works. His talks about civil rights, racial issues, and the fight for equality were bolstering and enlightening. He encouraged and motivated the people of Harlem to stand up and fight for their rights and sent a message that echoed in the minds of many. He was an attractive figure in the community who symbolized black consciousness and rebelliousness against inhumane treatments through his influential works.
The Impact of Hughes’ Tenure in Harlem:
The decade of Hughes’ residency in Harlem was a momentous time in the history of African-Americans. Here, he experienced an evolution of both his artistic works and his societal role. After years of struggle and tribulations, Hughes had finally arrived in a place that was worth a lifetime of work, a place to build his career and movement. He found a home in Harlem and embraced it in full.
The impact of Hughes’ time in Harlem is far-reaching and profoundly felt. His crafted words were the voice of an oppressed people, retelling history and bringing justice to the front of conversation. His words were a life-saving anchor for many and filled them with an immense sense of pride and security. His writings were a compilation of his observations and real-life experiences, and the power of his words served to animate and spread the message of black rights. His tenure in Harlem laid the framework for the Harlem Renaissance and the black rights movement.
Through his writing, Hughes inspired generations of African-Americans. Hughes’ insight, rhetoric and adeptness encouraged black writers and thinkers to exist in a time of resentment and pressure; to have their voice heard. Hundreds of African-American artists expressed their views in their writings during the Harlem Renaissance. After Hughes, African-American males and females, young and old, writers, actors and various creatives found a way to express themselves with great confidence. His work laid the foundation for movements like the Black Arts Movement, the Civil Rights Movement, and the Women’s Rights Movement. And while Harlem changed, his legacy remain engrained in the streets.
A Symbol Of Revolutionary Artistry:
Hughes’ residence in Harlem was a period of great intellectual development, a marker of enlightenment and progress. His works were widely appreciated and were relentlessly interlaced with the social events of his time. His writing stood out as a symbol of revolutionary artistry that transcended the boundaries of race and socio-economic class. His body of work had a worldwide reach and even today, his words and poetry remain relevant, proudly carrying his legacy. As a symbol of black consciousness, his works are deeply entrenched in the culture, seen as a reflection of the angst and struggle of many African-Americans.
Anderson observes, “Though Harlem had long been a popular destination for black and white artistic expressions, Hughes’ work had the most significant impact on the black community. With his works, Hughes was able to create a shared language of blackness that served as an alternative mode of communication and identity for African-Americans.”i His words were truer and more powerful than any other in his era, reaching not only to the African-American communities but to everyone else as well. For a brief moment, Hughes’ work created a sense of unity and purpose, and at the same time, challenged prevailing notions of race, beauty and identity.
Throughout his works, Hughes developed a strategic system of discourse to talk about black identity, and illustrated the intricate relationship between racial identity and artistic expression. He sought to build a new discourse of blackness, one that is powerful and proud, thus rejecting the stereotypes of African-Americans propagated by mainstream media. His ten-year residency in Harlem was a time of healing, understanding and creativity that continues to inspire today.
The Death of Langston Hughes:
Langston Hughes’ tenure in Harlem was tragically cut short due to his untimely death in 1967. After a long and successful career of writing, Hughes eventually succumbed to complications due to prostate cancer. His death marked a significant transition for not just the black community in Harlem, but for African-Americans around the world. Hughes’ passing was a loss not just to the African-American cultural landscape, but to literature and poetry as well. Despite this, his legacy remains. His writings, works and spirit serve as a beacon of hope and progress, an inspiring reminder of the power of words and the courage it takes to stand up and make a difference.
In memorializing Hughes’ life, many of his works have been kept in preservation and his memory has etched itself into the history books of African-American cultural progress. Hughes continues to inspire and punctuate conversations about race, identity, justice and progress. His impact on African-American history and culture continues to be felt today and his legacy lives on in his works and in the culture of Harlem.
Conclusion:
Langston Hughes’ ten-year residency in Harlem had an immense influence on both his life and the African-American culture at large. It was a time where he could express himself and build a strong following to spread the message of black identity and civil rights. His works were revolutionary and had a lasting impact on the culture, inspiring generations. His passing took on a particular poignance due to the fact that just moments before passing, he was surrounded by people whose lives he had touched and his hope was that everyone in the room regarded themselves as the leaders of the Civil Rights Movement. His spirit lives on and his works are a reminder of not only his greatness, but of the shared journey of African-Americans in America.
