Langston Hughes

And His Impact On The Harlem Renaissance

By Angel Miller
 What is the Harlem Renaissance?

- The Harlem Renaissance was a period of time in the 20th century when artistic

expression from those of those who are African American began to explode socially.

- This gave African Americans a voice among a broader community with a chance of being

treated equally.

- This took place in the Harlem Neighborhood in New York.

 Zora Neale Hurston (writer)

Duke Ellington (pianist, composer) Aaron Douglas (painter)

Background of Langston Hughes

● Born in the year 1902

● Raised by mother and grandmother,
● After his grandmother's death, he and his mother moved from city to city
until settling in Cleveland
● Attended Columbia University in New York City
● Met writers and eventual lifelong friends, Arna Bontemps and Carl Van
Vechten in 1924
L.H.’s Start in Writing

● Won an Opportunity prize in

a magazine centering around
poetry
● Introduced to Alfred A. Knopf
who published his The Weary
Blues collection
● Gained publicity from the
famous poet, Vachel Lindsay
L.H.’s Contribution to the Harlem Renaissance

● Langston Hughes wrote about and celebrated African-American culture,

shedding light on the oppressed group

● Was one of the most influential writers of the Harlem Renaissance

● “His literary works helped shape American literature and politics”

● Leader of the Harlem Renaissance

Langston Hughes had a wide variety of themes in his writing, with two of his most prevalent ones being
collective memory and American identity. His goal was to highlight many of the challenges and concerns
they faced at the time.
I, Too

I, Too represents how Hughes that

he feel that he has no place in

America. He also says that despite

this, African Americans will rise in

the face of adversity.

Negro Speaks of River

This poem looks at African American

slavery over the course of its history,

saying that African Americans have

always played a major role in the

evolution of American society.

Bibliography
● “Langston Hughes.” Poets.org, Academy of American Poets, 2019, poets.org/poet/langston-hughes.

● “Langston Hughes' Impact on the Harlem Renaissance.” Black EOE Journal, 1 Feb. 2019, www.blackeoejournal.com/2019/02/langston-

hughes-harlem-renaissance/.

● “Langston Hughes' Impact on the Harlem Renaissance.” Black EOE Journal, 1 Feb. 2019, www.blackeoejournal.com/2019/02/langston-

hughes-harlem-renaissance/.

● “Langston Hughes' Impact on the Harlem Renaissance.” Black EOE Journal, 1 Feb. 2019, www.blackeoejournal.com/2019/02/langston-

hughes-harlem-renaissance/.

● “Langston Hughes.” Biography.com, A&E Networks Television, 16 Jan. 2020, www.biography.com/writer/langston-hughes.