Langston Hughes has been revered as the "’O. Henry of Harlem,’ the ‘Dean of Negro Writers in America,’ and the ‘Negro Poet Laureate,’" as well as “’the Poet Laureate’ of Black America’” (Scott 1; Waldron 140). He was a pivotal figure in the Harlem Renaissance and, in fact, defined the movement from a literary point of view. He also contributed an unsurpassed personal account of the movement in his autobiography The Big Sea (Gates and McKay 1251). Hughes was a prolific writer and produced plays, novels, autobiographies, newspaper columns, African American histories, short stories, books for juveniles, and anthologies, as well as poems (Scott 1). His poetic creations embody some of the most characteristic aspects of African American poetry
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It must be noted that all the heroes themselves are not African American but each plays a significant role in the lives of African Americans. In “The Negro Speaks of Rivers,” he refers to Abraham Lincoln going down to New Orleans (Rampersad 73). This trip to New Orleans seems to refer to a trip Lincoln made in May 1831. Lincoln “[i]n New Orleans…beheld the true horrors of human slavery. He saw 'negroes in chains whipped and scourged.’ Against this inhumanity his sense of right and justice rebelled, and his mind and conscience were awakened to a realization of what he had often heard and read” (Tarbell 57). The most traumatic thing Lincoln witnessed in New Orleans was the slave auction. He was revolted and left that experience “with a deep feeling of 'unconquerable hate” (58). He confided afterwards in his companions who had been with him, “If ever I get a chance to hit that thing…[slavery], I 'll hit it hard” (58). Hughes wrote about two of his heroes in “For Russell and Rowena Jelliffe" (Rampersad 356). While this couple was not as renowned as Lincoln was, they had a strong influence on Hughes. In 1915, the couple, recent graduates of Oberlin College, started a settlement house in Cleveland with the intention “to establish a common ground where people of different races, religions, social and economic backgrounds could come together to seek and share common ventures” …show more content…
It, not only represents the experience of the African American in a compelling, evocative manner for the Black community, it also furnishes other ethnicities vibrant insight into the history, feelings, struggles, and hopes of African Americans. Hughes was skilled with talents sufficient to bring the strands of music, history, hope, and the heroes of the community together to produce poetry that presented the past, questioned the present, but always looked forward toward a new, improved future not only for his people, but also for all races, creeds, colors, socioeconomic backgrounds, and genders. There is no means by which it could be determined how many who struggled toward the freedom that is experienced now or how many who still strive toward greater freedom, accessibility, and social justice have taken their cue and derived renewed strength and determination from the writings of this the African American Poet
It must be noted that all the heroes themselves are not African American but each plays a significant role in the lives of African Americans. In “The Negro Speaks of Rivers,” he refers to Abraham Lincoln going down to New Orleans (Rampersad 73). This trip to New Orleans seems to refer to a trip Lincoln made in May 1831. Lincoln “[i]n New Orleans…beheld the true horrors of human slavery. He saw 'negroes in chains whipped and scourged.’ Against this inhumanity his sense of right and justice rebelled, and his mind and conscience were awakened to a realization of what he had often heard and read” (Tarbell 57). The most traumatic thing Lincoln witnessed in New Orleans was the slave auction. He was revolted and left that experience “with a deep feeling of 'unconquerable hate” (58). He confided afterwards in his companions who had been with him, “If ever I get a chance to hit that thing…[slavery], I 'll hit it hard” (58). Hughes wrote about two of his heroes in “For Russell and Rowena Jelliffe" (Rampersad 356). While this couple was not as renowned as Lincoln was, they had a strong influence on Hughes. In 1915, the couple, recent graduates of Oberlin College, started a settlement house in Cleveland with the intention “to establish a common ground where people of different races, religions, social and economic backgrounds could come together to seek and share common ventures” …show more content…
It, not only represents the experience of the African American in a compelling, evocative manner for the Black community, it also furnishes other ethnicities vibrant insight into the history, feelings, struggles, and hopes of African Americans. Hughes was skilled with talents sufficient to bring the strands of music, history, hope, and the heroes of the community together to produce poetry that presented the past, questioned the present, but always looked forward toward a new, improved future not only for his people, but also for all races, creeds, colors, socioeconomic backgrounds, and genders. There is no means by which it could be determined how many who struggled toward the freedom that is experienced now or how many who still strive toward greater freedom, accessibility, and social justice have taken their cue and derived renewed strength and determination from the writings of this the African American Poet