Langston Hughes: Poet Of The Harlem Renaissance

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As a major poet of the Harlem Renaissance, Langston Hughes (February 1, 1902~May 22, 1967) wrote how African Americans actually lived and spoke in many of his works, including his first poem published, “The Negro Speaks of Rivers”. However, he was not just a poet, but also an author and playwright, writing Broadway plays and operas. His grandmother had inspired several of his later poems for she was the one who had truly taught him as a young boy, but Walt Whitman and Carl Sandburg were also some of Hughes’ greatest inspiration. While Hughes had several influences himself, as you have read, he also inspired many other people as well, including the people behind the Civil Rights movement.