James Langston James Langston HughesHughes

By: Chelsea GoingBy: Chelsea Going

James Langston HughesJames Langston Hughes

BackgroundBackground

Born: February 1, Born: February 1, 1902 in Joplin, 1902 in Joplin, MissouriMissouri

Born to the parents of Born to the parents of Carrie and James Carrie and James HughesHughes

When his parents When his parents divorced he was sent divorced he was sent to live with his to live with his grandmother: Mary grandmother: Mary Langston.Langston.

Langston’s ChildhoodLangston’s Childhood While living with his grandmother Langston was taught a While living with his grandmother Langston was taught a

great deal of racial pride.great deal of racial pride. Living with his grandmother he attended school and Living with his grandmother he attended school and

gained a passion for writing.gained a passion for writing. After his grandmothers death not getting along with his After his grandmothers death not getting along with his

father in Toluca, Mexico, his mother made him come live father in Toluca, Mexico, his mother made him come live with her in Lincoln, Illinois.with her in Lincoln, Illinois.

Soon after moving to Lincoln, his family moved to Soon after moving to Lincoln, his family moved to Cleveland, Ohio.Cleveland, Ohio.

In Cleveland Langston’s passion for poetry grew even In Cleveland Langston’s passion for poetry grew even more.more.

Langston’s BeginningLangston’s Beginning In the 8th grade was when Langston’s writing In the 8th grade was when Langston’s writing

really began.really began. He wrote his first verse of poetry and was named He wrote his first verse of poetry and was named

the class poet.the class poet. Later during Langston’s high school life he Later during Langston’s high school life he

became the publisher for the school newspaper became the publisher for the school newspaper the the MonthlyMonthly..

His English teacher inspired by his writing His English teacher inspired by his writing introduced Langston to poets: Carl Sandburg, introduced Langston to poets: Carl Sandburg, Walt Whitman, and Paul Dunbar which became Walt Whitman, and Paul Dunbar which became his inspiration.his inspiration.

Visits with Langston’s FatherVisits with Langston’s Father

During the summer During the summer going into his senior going into his senior year, Langston went year, Langston went to visit his father.to visit his father.

Not getting along with Not getting along with his father during his his father during his whole summer.whole summer.

Langston’s visit Langston’s visit contributed to his contributed to his maturity as a writer maturity as a writer and as a man.and as a man.

Visits with Langston’s Visits with Langston’s FatherFather

After Langston graduated After Langston graduated from high school he went to from high school he went to visit his father again to ask visit his father again to ask him to help pay for college. him to help pay for college.

On the train ride to Toluca, On the train ride to Toluca, Mexico he began to ponder Mexico he began to ponder the past and future. Finally the past and future. Finally making all his thoughts into making all his thoughts into his poem “The Negro his poem “The Negro Speaks of Rivers”.Speaks of Rivers”.

After the visit with his After the visit with his father, his father agreed to father, his father agreed to pay for college as long as pay for college as long as he studied engineering.he studied engineering.

I've known rivers:I've known rivers ancient as the world and older than the flow of human blood in human veins.

My soul has grown deep like the rivers.

I bathed in the Euphrates when dawns were young.I built my hut near the Congo and it lulled me to sleep.

I looked upon the Nile and raised the pyramids above it.I heard the singing of the Mississippi when Abe Lincoln went down to New Orleans, and I've seen its muddy bosom turn all golden in the sunset.

I've known rivers:Ancient, dusky rivers.

My soul has grown deep like the rivers.By: Langston Hughes

College LifeCollege Life

When Langston went to college he only stayed When Langston went to college he only stayed in college for a year, while finding Harlem.in college for a year, while finding Harlem.

After discovering Harlem Langston’s writing After discovering Harlem Langston’s writing became inspired by everything around him.became inspired by everything around him.

Langston first volume autobiography “The Big Langston first volume autobiography “The Big Sea” gave a crucial 1st-person point of view of Sea” gave a crucial 1st-person point of view of the era.the era.

Langston’s writing increased tremendously and Langston’s writing increased tremendously and he wrote ideas down when ever one came to his he wrote ideas down when ever one came to his mind. mind.

Odd JobsOdd Jobs

Langston couldn’t just Langston couldn’t just start out with a career start out with a career in writing and become in writing and become rich and famous. rich and famous. Langston had to work Langston had to work many different jobs to many different jobs to just make it by.just make it by.

Assistant CookAssistant Cook LaundererLaunderer BusboyBusboy Traveled to Africa and Traveled to Africa and

Europe working as a Europe working as a SeamanSeaman

Background to Langston’s Background to Langston’s PoetryPoetry

Growing up with racial pride Langston expressed a great Growing up with racial pride Langston expressed a great deal of putting his own life experiences and common deal of putting his own life experiences and common experiences of black America into his poetry.experiences of black America into his poetry.

He wanted to show people the stories of his people in ways He wanted to show people the stories of his people in ways that reflected their actual culture, including their suffering, that reflected their actual culture, including their suffering, their love of music, laughter, and language.their love of music, laughter, and language.

Langston used rhythms of the jazz and blues, which set his Langston used rhythms of the jazz and blues, which set his music apart from all other writers.music apart from all other writers.

This allowed Langston to develop a new rhythmic free This allowed Langston to develop a new rhythmic free verse.verse.

With his style of writing and the sharing of his ideas With his style of writing and the sharing of his ideas Langston’s second volume of poetry: “Fine Clothes to the Langston’s second volume of poetry: “Fine Clothes to the Jew”, wasn’t liked by the public.Jew”, wasn’t liked by the public.

Langston becomes an Langston becomes an inspirationinspiration

Not Just a PoetNot Just a Poet

Children’s BooksChildren’s Books

AutobiographiesAutobiographies

Plays Plays

LyricsLyrics

Even though Even though Langston did express Langston did express himself through all his himself through all his work, he did follow work, he did follow guidelines when guidelines when writing plays and writing plays and lyrics for other people.lyrics for other people.

Towards the EndTowards the End

Langston had always had an issue with Langston had always had an issue with money, but after writing lyrics for the money, but after writing lyrics for the Broadway musical “Street Scene”, he was Broadway musical “Street Scene”, he was finally able to by a house in Harlem.finally able to by a house in Harlem.

Langston became recognized for his Langston became recognized for his poetry in his later years and was named poetry in his later years and was named “Poet Laureate of the Negro Race”.“Poet Laureate of the Negro Race”.

Langston Hughes DeathLangston Hughes Death With all that he has With all that he has

accomplished Langston accomplished Langston was said to be one of the was said to be one of the most original poets of all most original poets of all African American poets.African American poets.

On May 22, 1967 On May 22, 1967 Langston Hughes died Langston Hughes died after having abdominal after having abdominal surgery.surgery.

He was loved and missed He was loved and missed by all who knew him and by all who knew him and who read his work.who read his work.