1 / 14

Langston Hughes 1902-1967

Langston Hughes 1902-1967. “The Shakespeare of Harlem”. Born in Joplin, Missouri, James Langston Hughes was a member of an abolitionist family. He was raised primarily by his grandmother. Father abandoned his family due to racist conditions in the United States; moved to Cuba, then Mexico

kaia
Download Presentation

Langston Hughes 1902-1967

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Langston Hughes 1902-1967

  2. “The Shakespeare of Harlem”

  3. Born in Joplin, Missouri, James Langston Hughes was a member of an abolitionist family. He was raised primarily by his grandmother.

  4. Father abandoned his family due to racist conditions in the United States; moved to Cuba, then Mexico • Designated as class poet in grammar school: "I was a victim of a stereotype. There were only two of us Negro kids in the whole class and our English teacher was always stressing the importance of rhythm in poetry. Well, everyone knows — except us — that all Negroes have rhythm, so they elected me as class poet."

  5. School • Langston’s father offered to pay tuition if Langston studied engineering and not writing at Columbia University • While at Columbia in 1921, Hughes managed to maintain a B+ grade average • He left in 1922 because of racial prejudice • His interests revolved more around the neighborhood of Harlem than his studies, though he continued writing poetry

  6. Hughes received a B.A. degree from Lincoln University in 1929 • Received a Litt. D. in 1943 from Lincoln. • A second honorary doctorate was awarded to him in 1963 by Howard University He was a member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity.

  7. Hughes’ first volume of poetry was The weary Blues, published in 1926.

  8. The Weary Blues

  9. Harlem Renaissance • Also known as the “New Negro Movement” • Centered in Harlem, NY during the 1920’s and 1930’s

  10. The harlem Renaissance: • Challenged White paternalism and racism • Celebrated Black dignity and creativity • Was a flourishing of African American art: • Literature • Music • Visual Art • Dance • Drama

  11. “Harlem”

  12. Though he remained closeted during his life, Hughes was homosexual. • Avoided “coming out” to retain respect of Black churches, as well as to ensure further profit from his publications.

  13. Langston passed away on May 22, 1967 at the age of 65, due to complications during an abdominal surgery.

  14. Bibliography • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Langston_Hughes • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyqwvC5s4n8 • http://encarta.msn.com/media_461535464_761566483

More Related