Langston Hughes

1. Where was Langston Hughes born, and what is significant about his journey to Harlem, New York?
   He was born in Joplin, Missouri. His journey is significant because after traveling and studying, he returned to the U.S. and began writing and teaching in Harlem, where he became a major figure in the Harlem Renaissance.

2. How did Hughes first get into creative writing? What was the reason for his classmates electing him to that position?
   He first got into writing after being elected “class poet.” His classmates chose him as a commentary on his race, saying that “everyone knows black folk have rhythm.”

3. How did Hughes’s mixed-race identity both open and close doors for him throughout his life?
   His mixed-race identity gave him opportunities but also created barriers, meaning it both helped him gain access to certain spaces and caused discrimination.

4. How old was Hughes when he wrote his first poem? What is the story behind that poem, and how is it related to the ultimate goals of the Harlem Renaissance?
   He was 16 years old. The poem reflects a connection to his ancestors and reclaims history that had been used to oppress people of color, aligning with the Harlem Renaissance goal of embracing and uplifting Black identity.

5. What was the title of that poem, and why is it significant to the goals of the Harlem Renaissance?
   “The Negro Speaks of Rivers.” It is significant because it empowers Black cultural history and promotes pride in heritage.

6. What is significant about Hughes’s body of work?
   His work helped shape the Harlem Renaissance and expanded into many forms, including poems, plays, autobiographies, and children’s stories.

7. What did Hughes primarily write about?
   He wrote mainly about the lived experiences of African Americans in the United States.

8. How did Hughes earn the title of “Father of the Harlem Renaissance”?
   He was a major driving force behind the movement, with some arguing it may not have happened without him.

9. What other artists were inspired by Hughes’s work, or did Hughes interact with in any significant way?
   He influenced poets like Gwendolyn Brooks and Countee Cullen, and uplifted figures like Maya Angelou.

10. What major leaders would go on to be influenced by Hughes’s work?
    Maya Angelou and Martin Luther King Jr.

11. Where were Hughes’s ashes buried?
    At the Schomburg Research Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem.

12. Did Hughes have any children or spouses left behind? Why or why not?
    No, he never married or had children. It is speculated he may have been part of the LGBTQ+ community, though he never confirmed it.

13. Hughes was famously criticized by other writers for what reason?
    This is not stated in the slides.

14. What were major themes of Hughes’s poems, plays, memoirs, and novels?
    Themes included the lived experiences of African Americans, race relations, identity, and overcoming obstacles faced by people of color.

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