Langston Cornelious Hughes

Langston "Cornelious" Hughes

Hi! My name is Cornelious. But today, my name is Langston Hughes. Best known for my way of expressing the Black point of view through Jazz, literature, and poetry. I am known as one of the leading figures in the Harlem Renaissance in the 1920’s.

I lived from February 1, 1902 until May 22, 1967.

Born in Joplin, Missouri and moved around a lot when I was young, I settled in Cleveland, Ohio where I began to like poetry.

In 1925 I won first prize in the “Opportunity” magazine literary competition and received a scholarship to attend Lincoln University in Pennsylvania with my poem

“The Weary Blues”

My first book “The Weary Blues” was published in 1926 where I established my poetic style and commitment to black themes and heritage.

Being the first to show the life of urban black folk through poetry stories, I published my second volume of poetry in 1927 named “Fine Clothes to the Jew”.

I then published my first novel in 1929 named “Not Without Laughter” that became my claim to fame.

In 1937, I served as a spokesman for several American newspapers during the Spanish Civil War.

And 1951 I published one of my most celebrated poems named “Harlem”.

Today, I am Langston Hughes. And you can be too!