Langston Hughes

Looking for a great starting point to research Hughes online? Here is Hughes's page at the American Academy of Poets site, where you'll find biographical information, a photograph, a bibliography, and several Hughes-related links.

Want more information? Here's a biography of Hughes from the University of Kansas that goes into greater detail than the one above. You'll find some good links there, too.

Here's a photo of Hughes from the Smithsonian, taken in 1939 by Carl Van Vechten, an early champion of the Harlem Renaissance.

Here is Hughes's influential poem "Dream Deferred" in etext. Do a search on the phrase a raisin in the sun. What famous work of literature uses this Hughes quote as a title?

Here are "Jazzonia" online and some related links discussing the connection between Hughes's poetry and music.

To put Hughes into a historical context you should become familiar with the history of Harlem. This timeline with photos of Harlem in the first half of the last century is a good place to start your historical journey.

If you'd like more on the social history of Harlem in this era, here is a tour of "Harlem After Dark" in the 1920s.

The artistic movement Hughes was most closely associated with is the Harlem Renaissance. (Hughes was sometimes called the "poet laureate of Harlem.") Look here for an overview of the Harlem Renaissance.

The prominent figures of the Harlem Renaissance were not exclusively men. These links featuring women active in the Harlem Renaissance will help make your understanding of the movement more complete.