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During the 1920’s, the cultural, social, and literary eagerness that spread through Harlem could be called the most important period of self discovery in African American history after the Civil War. Black literature went through a tremendous outbreak in a small district of New York City called Harlem. In the middle of the changing atmosphere, one man would make a tremendous impact, Langston Hughes. ... Langston proudly defended his culture when he said, “You see, unfortunately, I’m not black. ... It means all Negro, therefore black” (Hughes 11). Being pulled in many different directions as a child in the time of the Harlem Renaissance, Hughes grew with his work, used many unique writing techniques, and showed promise through criticism.
“In Joplin, Missouri, on February 1, 1902, James Langston Hughes was born. He was named James after his father, and Langston after his mother, Carolina Mercer Langston” (Hill 11). The Hughes family lived very frugally as Langston’s parents searched for jobs and tried to overcome the obstacle of racial discrimination. ... Hughes and her son from accompanying Mr. Hughes to Mexico once he had acquired a new job. At this period in his life Langston shared time between his grandmother’s home in Lawrence, Kansas, and different cities where his mother found work. At age six, after his parents’ failure to reconcile their marriage, Langston finally settled and moved in with his mother in the second floor of a downtown building in Topeka, Kansas. Many schools in Topeka were segregated in 1908 and refused Langston’s admission, but his mother appealed personally to the School Board and finally Langston received his admittance. Langston excelled in his racially mixed classes and even though his teacher was racist, she praised his outstanding behavior and work.
Approximate Word count = 1452
Approximate Pages = 5.8
(250 words per page double spaced)
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