Langston Hughes Biography

Langston Hughes Biography by Chase Ruhmann

     Langston Hughes was a famous African American writer/poet who flourished mostly with the African American audience in the late 1920's through the 1930's. He was born on February 1st, 1902 in Joplin, Missouri. He lived with his mother, moving from home to home for most of his younger years. Since they were never in one place for very long, a friendless Langston Hughes usually found himself consumed in literature, making friends with the make believe characters in the books he read.

     It was about the time that Langston turned 8 years old when his single mother realized that she could no longer financially provide for him and sent him away to his grandmothers. He became close with his grandmother and more entertained by literature. When he was 13 year old, his grandmother passed away. He had to move back with his mother, who recently remarried since their departure.

     When Langston was 8th grade he met his early influences, Carl Sandburg and Walk Whitman, after his teacher uncovered his natural literarry potential. Later that year Langston Hughes was selected "class poet" of his 8th grade class.

     Hughes had a rough teen life with his dad who lived in Mexico. He went and saw him a couple of times, the first time ending in an arguement about him wanting to become a writer when his dad wanted him to be an engineer. His second trip to see his dad he wrote one of his famous poems, ''The Negro Speaks of Rivers," which he soon after got published. Langston's dad was impressed enough with his successful poem to pay for his college education.

    A lot of Hughes' writing was inspired by a rough, painful young life. He wanted to cheer the poor, struggling African American up through literature. His career quickly launched after his poem, "The Weary Blues," won first prize in the poetry section of the 1925 Opportunity Magazine literary contest.

    Before his death on May 22, 1967 when he was 65 years old, Langston Hughes contributed his share to American Literature and society. He gave exclusive some insight to the renaissance movement in Harlem that the majority of society was unaware of during that time period. That contributed to the publication and recognition of African American music, speech, and literature. In my opinion, Langston Hughes was the greatest African American poet of his time and maybe even of all time.