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Langston Hughes
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Langston Hughes Poems
- Dreams Hold fast to dreams For if dreams die Life is a ...
- As I Grew Older It was a long time ago. I have almost ...
- Mother To Son Well, son, I'll tell you: Life for me ain't ...
- April Rain Song Let the rain kiss you Let the rain beat upon...
- I, Too I, too, sing America. I am the darker ...
- Cross My old man's a white old man And my old mother's ...
- Let America Be America Again Let America be America ...
Hughes was an American poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist. He was one of the earliest innovators of the then-new literary art form jazz poetry. Hughes is best known for his work during the Harlem Renaissance. He famously wrote about the period that "Harlem was in vogue."
Biography
Ancestry and Childhood
Both of Hughes' paternal and maternal great-grandmothers were African-American, his maternal great-grandfather was white and of Scottish descent. A paternal great-grandfather was of European Jewish descent. Hughes's maternal grandmother Mary Patterson was of African-American, French, English and Native American descent. One of... more »
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Quotations
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''I was so sick last night I
Langston Hughes (1902-1967), U.S. poet. Morning After (l. 1-6). . . Selected Poems of Langston Hughes. (1959) Vintage Books.
Didn't hardly know my mind.
So sick last night I
Didn't know my mind.
I drunk some bad licker that
Almost made me blind.''
-
''Way Down South in Dixie
Langston Hughes (1902-1967), U.S. poet. Song for a Dark Girl (l. 1-4). . . Selected Poems of Langston Hughes. (1959) Vintage Books.
(Break the heart of me)
They hung my black young lover
To a cross roads tree.''
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''Love is a naked shadow
Langston Hughes (1902-1967), U.S. poet. Song for a Dark Girl (l. 11-12). . . Selected Poems of Langston Hughes. (1959) Vintage Books.
On a gnarled and naked tree.''
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''I swear to the Lord
Langston Hughes (1902-1967), U.S. poet, author. The Black Man Speaks, Jim Crow's Last Stand (1943).
I still can't see
Why Democracy means
Everybody but me.''
-
''here
Langston Hughes (1902-1967), U.S. poet. Theme for English B (l. 8-10). . . Selected Poems of Langston Hughes. (1959) Vintage Books.
to this college on the hill above Harlem
I am the only colored student in my class.''
Dreams
Hold fast to dreams
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly.
Hold fast to dreams
For when dreams go
Life is a barren field
Frozen with snow.
I can remember the first time I heard one of his poems. It was as if the voice within me was read aloud. In the Harlem renaissance of the 1920s black and proud. I see you I see me, A reflection of what I may be. Genius is as genius does, I once heard your genius born out in word. I wonder do you know the impact you have the lives you touch. You give expression to our innermost feelings in a way that we recognize them true. Mr. Langston Hughes genius is you. By Andrew
he should still be around so more people would know him
This poet really fought against the stereotypical aspects of social stigma....He is a legendary via poetry Activist.I appreciate his work...
Why can't I find Langston Hughes' short but very powerful poem titled End? Could you possibly include it? Thank you very much.
one of my favourite poets, social commentary at its best at a time when it was hardly popular particularly in the US
Langston Hughes is one of the best poets ever
langston hughes is is good enough to be a clown YOU SUCK! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
this a poem that my bestfriend and i resite when tone of us is upset
I liek teh chick it go thje BOK BOK
good piece of work.
i like it