The Harlem Renaissance : Langston Hughes

James Mercer Langston Hughes was a pioneering American poet, novelist, playwright, social activist, and columnist born on February 1, 1901, in Joplin, Missouri. A key figure of the Harlem Renaissance, Hughes was one of the earliest innovators of jazz poetry, using rhythm and improvisation to capture the essence of Black life and culture.

Raised in the Midwest, Hughes displayed a talent for writing from a young age. He later moved to New York City, where he briefly attended Columbia University. Though he did not complete his studies there, he gained recognition in literary circles, first through The Crisis magazine and later through major publishers. His first poetry collection, The Weary Blues (1926), solidified his place in the Harlem creative community. He eventually earned a degree from Lincoln University.

Beyond poetry, Hughes was a versatile writer, producing plays, short stories, novels, and nonfiction. From 1942 to 1962, as the civil rights movement gained momentum, he wrote a thought-provoking weekly column for The Chicago Defender, offering insight into Black life, politics, and culture. His legacy endures as one of the most influential voices in American literature.

Carl Van Vechten, © Van Vechten Trust. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University