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... Langston Hughes stands out amongst African American writers as one who overcame hardships at an early age and developed into a devoted author. Hughes’s work conveys themes of racism, prejudice, and the failure of the American dream. ... Destitute and impoverished, Langston Hughess emergence from a racist childhood reflects his scorn for those who treat others unjustly and ultimately demonstrates prejudice via his writing while at the same time aims to shock a diverse audience.
James Mercer Langston Hughes was born in Joplin, Missouri where he immediately saw the effects of racism on his life (Magill, 943). His father left for Mexico when Langston was only a year old due to a series of events, including an all white Oklahoma examination board’s refusal to let him take the bar examination (Magill, 943). Hughes’s mother did not go to Mexico and Hughes often stayed with his grandmother until her death in 1912 (Magill, 943). Living with his mother and grandmother, Hughes learned to adapt to a flexible lifestyle common to many African Americans struggling to earn a living. Hughes and his mother were both drifters in the sense that they lived in many places and with different people. Uncle and Auntie Reed provided a home for Hughes until 1916 when Hughes’s mother remarried and he lived with his mother again (Magill, 945). As Hughes emerged from his teens, it was obvious that he was a gifted student despite the lack of education that was provided for him. Tempted by the American dream of freedom and equality, Hughes was denied in the realization of racism (Gale, 211). Due to race issues, Hughes was unable to board at Columbia University after he was accepted. ...
Hughes’s prolific career stemmed from various influences on his writing ranging from his impoverished childhood to his world travels. In his time at Central High School, Hughes had a keen interest in reading and was influenced by the poetry of Carl Sandburg (Magill, 945).
Approximate Word count = 1587
Approximate Pages = 6.3
(250 words per page double spaced)
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