Langston Hughes a Harlem Renaissance Man

The Harlem renaissance was a renewal, flourishing literary, and music culture. The birth of the Harlem renaissance was in New York. It was the new Negro movement; The Harlem Renaissance was a literary and intellectual blossoming new black culture identity in the 1920s and 30s. It also described as a spiritual coming of age. With racism still rampant leaving economic opportunities, scarce, creative expression was available to African Americans in the early 20th century.

Many of Hughes’s poems stand out in their description of the black experience. Some of the poems that stand out include “Ku Klux,” “House In the World,” and “Children’s Rhymes.” These poems delve into the world of fear, segregation, and the lost innocence of black culture. These poems genuinely demonstrate the difficult lives most black people had to live. Langston Hughes was one of the most influential black poets of the twentieth century. He took part in the Harlem Renaissance and taught the world about black life and culture.

Hughes poetry was a reflection of the African-American culture and Harlem. He wrote many poems, and continued to write even after the Harlem Renaissance. He loved Harlem that was his home. He watched it decline with the onset of the Great Depression. He saw Harlem turn into a place to be feared by many.

Many viewed this genre as a voice for the black communities and as “the New Negro poets expressed a deep pride in being Black” (Smith, 1983, p. 37) it is easy to see how this influenced their poetry. The main theme of Blues were the troubles of life and finding an escape, and this underlying dissatisfaction was incorporated into poetry as a response to many of the injustices present. For example, a clear example of this is Langston Hughes’ Homesick Blues which uses many of the key techniques from Blues songs, such as short lines to create urgency. The poem discusses the effect of prejudices and injustices on the black communities, especially when it comes to finding a home and an identity. There is a subtle, irregular rhyme scheme from words such as “sun… done” (Ramazani, 1994, pp.

Hughes’s poems depict the African American struggles with self and the society, leading him to be one of the most influential icons of the Harlem Renaissance with poetry that is direct, comprehensible, and signifying simplicity. Hughes’s poems “Negro,” “The Negro Speaks of Rivers,” and “I, Too” illustrate how Hughes wrote his poetry as a means of exploring different geographical settings in order to show the significance of history, heritage, and identity to the lives of African Americans in a segregated environment. Langston Hughes was one of the most influential writers during the Harlem Renaissance. His poetry echoes the voices of ordinary African Americans and the rhythms of their music. With the use of blues and Jazz... ... middle of paper ... ... too, sings America.

One thing is for sure, Hughes consistent use of common themes allows them to be the very basis of the Harlem Renaissance. Langston Hughes is one of the most influential icons of the Harlem renaissance because of his poetry and musical talent. Langston Hughes was one of the most influential poets during the Harlem Renaissance. With the use of blues and Jazz Hughes managed to convey a range of different themes all revolving around the Negro. “[Langston Hughes] The first poet to transform the idioms of blues and jazz into poetic verse” (Johnson and Farrell 55).

O Blues!” (Norton 1733) “The Weary Blues” captures an important element of the black identity, that of its music and the soul which is put into its expression. The poem captures that soul of the black man as he wails a mellow tune to the beat of a blues rhythm. Langston Hughes established himself as the poet laureate of Harlem. He served as the voice of the downtrodden, as well the elite in black culture. The criticism that he once received is now praise as his influence is manifested in the affirmation of the black identity.

Between 1910 and 1920, thousands of African-American moved to the north from the south. The slavery issues and discrimination towards black peoples were very intense in the south at that time. On account of that, they moved to the North and most of them moved to Harlem, a section of New York City. This great migration was the beginning of the Harlem Renaissance. The Harlem Renaissance or also known as the Negro Renaissance or the New Negro Movement was literary and artistic movement by the African-American (Singh).

Harlem Renaissance During the 1920's, the spiritual, social, and literary eagerness that raced 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 Harlem, which is a district of New York City. In the middle of the changing atmosphere, a small group of black men and women began a public relations campaign to promote what they called the "New Negro" movement. While these men and women promoted art and literature, they were credited with starting much more than just and intellectual movement. This movement included poetry and writing, which forever changed the African-American lifestyle into a unique and more educated culture.

Throughout African American history different individuals have made a significant impact that would forever change things. In the 1900s Harlem became the governing body for the birth of jazz and blues. This also open door for a new era called the Harlem Renaissance. During this time a poet name Langston Hughes was introduced. Langston Hughes created poetry that stood out to people.