Study Notes on Black Studies and Langston Hughes

Black Studies as a Method

  • Discussion of black studies as a method and historical practice.

  • Highlighting the interdisciplinary nature of the field.

  • Investigation and challenge of race and racism as subjects of study.

  • Transitioning to practical application of these ideas.

Langston Hughes as a Case Study

  • Use of Langston Hughes' work to exemplify key concepts.

  • Examining how Hughes discusses race and art.

  • Compared to W.E.B. Du Bois's thinking about race phenomena.

Fundamental Questions

  • Reflection on the nature of beauty:

    • What constitutes beauty?

    • How to articulate definitions of beauty and its subjective nature.

Responses to Beauty

  • Attractiveness as a synonym for beauty.

    • Pleasing the eye as a traditional definition.

  • The deeper levels of beauty:

    • Surface level beauty – e.g., appealing food appearance vs. taste.

    • Emotional beauty – art that resonates emotionally, leaving the audience moved.

  • Acknowledgment of personal taste and perspective in beauty:

    • Discussion on how perspective influences definitions of beauty.

Standards of Beauty

  • Exploration of standards and hierarchies in beauty within arts.

  • Importance of cultural context in perceptions of beauty.

  • Examination of the impact of race and societal rules on the beauty of art,

    • Artistic beauty defined through societal acceptance and subjective experience.

Cultural Context in the Harlem Renaissance

  • Introduction to Langston Hughes:

    • Leading voice of the Harlem Renaissance.

    • Importance of Hughes’s work as a representation of black life.

  • Changes in black consciousness during his era.

    • How Hughes portrayed dignity and beauty in ordinary black life.

The Harlem Renaissance Movement

  • Notable emergence of artistic and cultural expressions among African Americans:

    • Diverse artistic forms, including poetry, theater, and music.

  • Recognition that this movement extended beyond New York to other urban centers like Chicago and Washington D.C.

  • The redefinition of black identity and culture through artistic expression.

Langston Hughes’ Background

  • Born in Joplin, Missouri on February 2.

  • Early themes of loneliness and displacement due to frequent relocations.

  • Key works and influences:

    • The Negro Speaks of Rivers – celebrated African heritage, published in a prominent black journal.

    • Engagement with Harlem’s art scene and incorporation of jazz and blues rhythms into poetry.

  • Prolific writing career:

    • Authored plays, short stories, and anthologies amplifying black voices.

Collaborative Efforts and Legacy

  • Notable collaborations with musicians like Duke Ellington.

  • Hughes's role as a promoter of fellow writers in Harlem.

  • Recognition of Hughes's lasting impact and status as a landmark figure in literature.

    • Died of cancer on May 22, 1967; Harlem residence designated as a landmark.

Du Bois' Influence on Understanding Race

  • Transition in thinking from Du Bois and Washington to Hughes.

  • Reiteration of concepts like double consciousness from Du Bois' work:

    • Struggles of African Americans encompassed dual identities: self-perception vs. external perception.

  • Exploration of racial identity and systemic racism in American society.

Addressing Whiteness in Art and Society

  • Hughes's narratives address the complexities of race.

  • The mountain of challenges faced by black artists navigating societal expectations.

  • Discussion on moral and economic dimensions rooted in whiteness.

  • Notion of colorism as a product of white supremacy impacting perceptions of beauty and virtue.

The Concept of Colorism

  • Definition: Treatment of individuals based on the shade of their skin tone.

  • Racialization of beauty standards:

    • The impact of lighter skin on societal perceptions and opportunities.

The Intricacies of Race and Gender

  • How race complicates societal norms around gender and sex.

  • Examination of the systemic implications of racial identity on artists and their work:

    • Black artists representing more than individual identities.

Conclusion

  • Reiteration of the thematic focus on race and its complex interplay with societal expectations, art, and personal identity.

  • Acknowledgment of the need for an interdisciplinary approach to understand cultural narratives developed through black studies.