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Langston Hughes Biography Essay

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Langston Hughes’ abandonment at a young age by his father as well as his life during a time of racial inequality led to his becoming a civil rights and humanitarian activist via his poetry. James Mercer Langston Hughes was born in Joplin, Missouri, on February 1, 1902. Unfortunately, his parents separated and divorced shortly after he was born; his father left the United States because of the massive racism at the time (Biography.com Authors). Following this, Hughes was raised by his maternal grandmother in Lawrence, Kansas, as his mother traveled in search of a job. Following his grandmother’s passing away, he moved with his mother until they finally settled in Cleveland, Ohio (Authors of Encyclopedia Brittanica). Hughes would later state that his experience in high school there was his first introduction to poetry (Biography.com Authors). As Hughes grew and matured, he began to dabble in many …show more content…

First, Hughes wrote “I, too” to signify the difference between black and white Americans. He states that the African-American population is ignored and held back from the society, but if they stand up, no one would dare to prevent them, too, from having rights (Hughes, “I, Too”). Next, Hughes wrote “Democracy” to show that the idea of democracy is not in alignment of what was currently in the USA (Hughes, “Democracy”). He argues that he, like all Americans, has rights, and that action is more powerful than words when it comes to ensuring freedom (Hughes, “Democracy”). Finally, Hughes wrote “Mother to Son” to demonstrate his understanding of the struggles of many working class black families, stating that the stair of life is difficult and has many obstacles. Nevertheless, he argues that “I’se still goin’” despite the difficulties that many have faced, and that persistence is necessary to get past the struggles that many African-Americans faced ( Hughes, “Mother to

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He then went to live with his mother in Illinois and finally settled in Ohio. Hughes started writing poetry when he lived in Illinois. He went to Columbia University for one year and finished his education at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania. Before his first book was published, he had been “a truck farmer, cook, waiter, college graduate, sailor, and doorman at a

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Hughes was born in Missouri in 1902 and studied in the New York at the University of Columbia and in Pennsylvania at Lincoln University. During his four decade career Langston wrote 16 volumes of poems as well as many other works. He traveled extensively throughout his life and wrote about his travels in two volumes of his autobiography. Hughes is well known for his works that addressed struggles of African American communities throughout the United States, Hughes “believed it was his vocation to ‘explain and illuminate the Negro condition in America’ (DiYanni 993).” Though many of his poems are describing racism in the early to mid 20th century, they are still relatable to many people

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African Americans would often have poetry groups, though many were individual poets (Cullen). One of the most famous poets from this time period was Langston Hughes, who was born in Joplin, Missouri in 1901. His parents got divorced when he was a young child, then his father moved to Mexico, and he was raised by his grandmother. He then moved to Washington DC and wrote his first poem in 1926 called The Weary Blues. He continued to write inspiring and honest poems through The Great Depression (“About Langston

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Hughes had never written poetry before, this inspired him to write some. As a gift to the class he wrote over a dozen poems to thank his fellow classmates and staff. Hughes did not stop there, he moved once more. With a little bit of experience

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It talks about how yesterday was a thing of the past and that it cannot be changed. He talks about how each day, African Americans must march on towards their dreams. Despite prejudice, oppression, and poverty that African Americans faced at this time, Hughes points to a positive in that the only way their dreams will come true is if they focus on the present day and what they can do to fix things. They cannot be looking at the past and what has happened. His message to the audience in this poem is towards the youth, in particular African-Americans.

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His father (James Nathaniel Hughes) moved to Mexico, and he did not see him until summer. Hughes only wrote when he was either sad or angry. He was referred to as “Harlem’s poet” because he and many others had such a big impact.

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I, Too is written in hopes of a better life for African Americans “Tomorrow, / I’ll be at the table/ When Company Comes.” “Nobody’ll dare/ Say to me, “Eat in the kitchen.”.” Hughes use of “Tomorrow” indicates what is yet to come for those who have had to struggle and have been discriminated against because of the color of their

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More than just a Poet Before even graduating from college, Langston Hughes’ name was becoming known around the country for his writing. His first major poem, “The Negro Speaks of Rivers,” written at just seventeen years old, gave way to a forty-year career of popular writings for the author. Known as one of the most iconic African-American writers of his time, Langston Hughes had a major influence on American Literary History. He was known for and as the people’s poet, use of jazz blues, and life experiences.

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Some interesting facts about Langston Hughes are that he studied Engineering and Chemistry because his father wanted him to study a subject more lucrative than writing; another interesting fact is that Langston Hughes was a key figure in the Harlem Renaissance in New York in the 1920s. In the poetry that he wrote, he took his inspiration from Walt Whitman, Paul Laurence Dunbar, and Carl Sandburg. That's why I picked Langston Hughes. Langston Hughes was born on February 1, 1901. Langston’s birthplace was Joplin, Missouri.

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In Langston Hughes's time, America was in a tough spot with racial segregation and discrimination everywhere. Life for Black people was a constant battle against unfair treatment and being denied basic rights. The Jim Crow laws enforced this separation, making sure Black folks couldn't share public spaces, schools, or even homes with white people, keeping inequality alive and well. Despite all this, Hughes used his poetry to speak out against these injustices and show the struggles Black people faced. His words painted a vivid picture of what life was like for them, shining a light on the unfairness and hypocrisy of a society divided by race.

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How the Theme is Developed with Literary Techniques in “I, Too” Literary techniques highly affect the way a poem flows and the message it delivers. The use of a technique is to create a deeper meaning to something or to convey an important theme. The poem “I, Too” by Langston Hughes utilizes metaphors and symbolism to develop the idea that people are equal and deserve to be treated with justice and respect no matter what skin color they have. First and Foremost, Hughes uses metaphors such as the “kitchen” and “table” to develop the idea that people are segregated. The “kitchen” part of the metaphor builds on the idea that the speaker is being segregated and not taken into account because he is being “[sent] to eat in the kitchen” (3).

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Langston Hughes was an important figure during the Harlem Renaissance, his important literature flourished during the nineteen twenties. His writing not only influenced African American culture but it brought inside light to how African Americans were suffering injustice and repression. The poems "Theme For English B" and "I,Too" both gave readers an inside look of Langston Hughes views of equal civil rights and and treatment under the law for African Americans. First, he is portraying the African American experience when African Americans were not only considered less than human, certainly unworthy of being considered "American". Both poems use first-person voices; however the "I" is different for each poem, to fulfill Hughes' purpose for

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These poems have greatly affected my views and feelings about current controversial issues which are, racism, repression and those born in less fortunate circumstances. The poem, “I, Too” by Langston Hughes is a cogent poem about racism in America. It is written from the perspective of an African American in the 1920s. The very first line states that he too can “sing America,” meaning that he has the right to feel although he is the “darker brother” who has to hide and eat in the kitchen when company comes. This eating in the kitchen illustrates the racial segregation that was imposed in early 20th century America; where African Americans faced discrimination in nearly every aspect in their lives.

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James Langston Hughes was born on February 1, 1902 in Joplin, Missouri, United States. He died on May 22, 1967 in New York, United States. Langston Hughes is forever remembered as one of the greatest African American poets of all time. When he was young in high school his father divorced his mother because of improper behavior between them and moved with Langston to Mexico. Hughes’s father had severed all relationship with the African American community, Langston grew up around his father who did never identify with its own race.

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In the poem “I, Too”, the author Langston Hughes illustrates the key aspect of racial discrimination faces against the African Americans to further appeals the people to challenge white supremacy. He conveys the idea that black Americans are as important in the society. Frist, Hughes utilizes the shift of tones to indicate the thrive of African American power. In the first stanza, the speaker shows the sense of nation pride through the use of patriotic tone. The first line of the poem, “I, too, sing America” states the speaker’s state of mind.

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