Langston Hughes - A Literary Genius Essay - 2076 Words

Langston Hughes (1902-1967), one of the most prominent figures in the world of Harlem, has come to be an African American poet as well as a legend of a variety of fields such as music, childrens literature and journalism. Through his poetry, plays, short stories, novels, autobiographies, childrens books, newspaper columns, Negro histories, edited anthologies, and other works, Hughes is considered a voice of the African-American people and a prime example of the magnificence of the Harlem Renaissance who promoted equality, condemned racism and injustice that the Negro society endured, and left behind a precious literary and enduring legacy for the future generations. In an endeavor to explore why and to what extent his poetry has still†¦show more content†¦society. Besides, delivering his poetry from his heart, Hughes made many black readers feel as though everyday practices of their lives was portrayed in his writing, as writer Ishmael Reed once said, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“We shou ld honor Langston Hughes for his ability to say what was in souls of millionsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬? . In a 1996 essay on Langston Hughes Collected Poems in the New Republic, Helen Vendler, one of Americas top poetry critics, echoed Rampersadà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s point when she said that most of his poems are accessible to anyone who can read, and even the more allusive ones generally mention events that were, at the time, in the daily newspapers . In addition, when mentioning of Hughesà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ masterpiece à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“ The Negro Speak of Riversà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬?, Kevin Powell, writer, founding staff member and former senior writer for Vibe magazine who helped introduce the hip-hop generation to Hughes work, noted, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Any group can relate to that piece. If youre an immigrant coming from Ireland or Italy, or a Jew who has escaped Nazi Germany, or if youre a woman, you can relate to that piece _ or if youre gay or lesbian, or obviously if youre African-American. However, behind their apparent simplicity, the glory of Langston Hughes poems was to use many symbols to illustrate his main themes and still maintain the elements of profundity, humor and irony in the meanings such as those in à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Ku Kluxà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬?, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“The Negro Speak of Riversà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬?, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“What Happened to a Dream Deferred ?à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬?, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“I, too, SingShow MoreRelatedJames Mecer Langston Hughes: Literary Genius1763 Words   |  8 PagesLiterary Genius James Mercer Langston Hughes was born February 1, 1902 in Joplin, Missouri. James Hughes and Carrie Langston are Hughes’ parents. They later divorced when Hughes was young. After his parents divorced he went to live with his grandmother until he turned thirteen years old. At thirteen years old he moved to Lincoln, Illinois. After living in Illinois he later moved to Cleveland, Ohio to live with his mother. When he moved to Cleveland he started writing poetry (â€Å"James Mercer†¦Ã¢â‚¬  parRead MoreLangston Hughes Essay1084 Words   |  5 PagesLangston Hughes was a large influence on the African-American population of America. Some of the ways he did this was how his poetry influenced Martin Luther King Jr. and the Harlem Renaissance. These caused the civil rights movement that resulted in African-Americans getting the rights that they deserved in the United States. Hughes was born in 1902 in Joplin, Missouri. His parents divorced when he was young and his grandmother raised him. She got him into literature and education; she was one ofRead MoreAnalysis of Langston Hughes ´ The Negro Speaks of Rivers927 Words   |  4 PagesLangston Hughes A Poetic of the Harlem Renaissance During the Harlem Renaissance copious African Americans writers arose from this movement including Claude McKay, Zora Neale Hurston, Countee Cullen, and especially Langston Hughes. Langston Hughes has endured hardships from the time his parents separated to being raised in different cities. Hughes has tried multiple times to reconnect with his father, but it never succeeded. Although Langston Hughes has a complicated relationship with his fatherRead More Langston Hughes Essay1464 Words   |  6 Pages Langston Hughes   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  People always listen to music, watch movies or plays, and even read poetry without once even thinking what is could be that helps and artist eventually create a masterpiece. Often times, it is assumed that artists just have a â€Å"gift†, and people just do not consider the circumstances and situations that gradually mold a dormant idea into a polished reality. This seems to be the case with nearly every famous actor, writer, painter, or musician; including the ever-famousRead MoreThe Innate Genius Behind By Langston Hughes944 Words   |  4 PagesLangston Hughes was a pioneer of African-American literature and while he wrote an abundance of short stories, essays and plays, he is most well-known for his poetry. The innate genius behind these poems was that he wrote about the everyday lives of American men and women using simple and easily relatable language to invoke a sense of grand importance that most people could understand. His poetry presents a commentary in which both races can begin to better understand one another and also critiquesRead MoreLangston Hughes And His Harlem Dream1902 Words   |  8 PagesLangston Hughes and His Harlem Dream An explosion of written and artistic creativity, a time of social awareness and enlightenment among the black race. The Harlem Renaissance, originally known as ‘The New Negro Movement’, began after the first world war and lasted until the middle of the 1930’s depression. Harlem became a destination for African Americans throughout the early 1900’s as part of the great migration. As more blacks made Harlem their home, it increasingly became well known as an AfricanRead More Reviews of Notes of a Native Son Essay1238 Words   |  5 Pagescame to the conclusion that Baldwin’s use of words was extremely eloquent and intelligent. Specifically an article titled â€Å"Rage unto Order† by Dachine Rainer was very adamant about Baldwin’s genius as a writer but hardly did anything to explain or exemplify that fact. Another review written by Langston Hughes reflects upon how Baldwin clings to the issue of racial discrimination on Negroes and that if he let go of that fact it would prove him to be a greater writer. In the third article the authorRead MoreClaude Mckay s Harlem Dancer And Ended Around 1929 Essay1535 Words   |  7 PagesThe Harlem Renaissance began in 1918 with the publication of Claude McKay’s â€Å"Harlem Dancer† and ended around 1929. During this period, there was a wave of literary works by, and about, Blacks. The Harlem Renaissance was a period of great intellectual expression as well as introspection (Bodenner). There were several key moments and individuals that made this era of time historical. African American artists rejected imitating the ideals of white Americans and championed black artistic expression onRead More Writers of the Harlem Renaissance Essay2535 Words   |  11 PagesHarlem, a part of Manhattan in New York City, became a hugely successful showcase for African American talent. Starting with black literature, the Harlem Renaissance quickly grew to incredible proportions. W.E.B. Du Bois, Claude McKay, and Langston Hughes, along with many other writers, experienced incredible popularity, respect, and success. Art, music, and photography from blacks also flourished, resulting in many masterpieces in all mediums. New ideas began to take wings among circles of blackRead MoreThe Harlem Renaissance : An Important Piece Of History For America1473 Words   |  6 Pagesmost of it while it lasts. About twice a year I sell a story. It is acclaimed. I am a genius in the making. Thank God for this Negro literary renaissance. Long may it flourish!† Thurman made this statement to show how thankful he was for the Harlem Renaissance movement and for his opportunity to be a writer. Another great man of the Harlem Renaissance was a African American male by the name of Langston Hughes. Hughes was and is still a very famous author and poet. He is extremely popular due to the