Why did Langston Hughes become a writer?
Langston Hughes was the most prominent social activist and an American Poet. He was also a famous playwright, novelist and a columnist. He was born in February1 1902 in Joplin, Missouri (Hughes 210). His father was called James Hughes and her mother was Carrie. It is said that when Langston was born his parent separated and his father decided to move to Mexico. He graduated from high school in the year 1992 and spent the following year with his dad in Mexico (Hughes 210). He first enrolled himself to the University of Columbia; however, he left after a period of year to travel and he was able to work in various jobs around New York.
Hughes’s mother had also moved around during his youthful age. This means that he was left without his parent support. However, he was left under his tender grandmother who was called Mary. This shows that he was primary raised by his grandmother until when she died during his teen’s age. When his grandmother died, he was forced to go and live with her mother where they were in a position to visit several cities. However, they decided to settle in Cleveland, Ohio. It was during this entire time when he started to write his first poem. Langston Hughes is known as a famous and earliest innovator of the new literary art form Jazz poetry (Hughes 120). In addition, he is best known for his entire work during the Harlem Renaissance (Hughes 210). He famously wrote about the period, "Harlem was in vogue (Hughes 210)." It is believed that when Langston Hughes was in Cleveland, Ohio, one of his best teachers had pioneered him to the poetry of Carl Sandburg and Walt Whitman (Hughes 210). He later cited these poets as his primary influences as they both inspired him to his poetry.
The reason why Langston Hughes becomes a writer is the fact that he was spending most of the time alone. This means that during his free time, he could use his creativity to write some of fascinating stories on a paper. Additionally, a woman known as Alice walker inspired him to become a writer and eventually writing became a passion to Hughes and he turn it into his career (Tracy 102).
What inspired Langston Hughes to become a poet?
It is believed that Langston Hughes was inspired by his poor and rough upbringing in Cleveland, Ohio to become a poet (Tracy 102). The fact that he was staying under the support of his grandmother, he had remained distant from his parent, these challenge him a lot, and the thought for writing a poem came into his mind. This is due to the fact that through writing he could become a responsible person who can be in a position to take care of him and the entire family. For this reason, his struggles had also played a critical part in inspiring him to become a poet. The fact that he spends most of his time with his grandmother, who was narrating stories of the past, developed him a deep interest in history and as a result, he was inspired to write fascinating and educative poems (Tracy 102). Another thing that inspired him to become a poet was his own identity. The fact that he belonged to a race that sometimes could not accept him made him much inspired by this idea (Hughes 210). This shows that his cultural identify and the ridicule of blacks inspired many of his poetry.
Why was Langston Hughes popular?
James Langston Hughes was born in 1902 where he was a poet, a novel writer and a writer of short stories and plays. He is popular as a poet in America as he started his first poet in 1921. He was the first African American poet with quality sound which made him popular in America. He is well known for fighting for the rights of African American who are oppressed by the American culture. He is well known for his support of black people since he was one of them. He is well known for translating foreign poets and plays in the English language (Hughes 112). He was a well established poet which enhanced his popularity. He was popular for he said important things to black people living in America. He was a poet and a writer for a period of many years where he was an influence to other poets and writers in America inclusive of white poets. His writing is remembered by all people who knew and understood his poets, newspaper writings and children stories for a period of fifty years. His work and poets had a message to the people as he discussed racial discrimination issues and matters relating to injustices blacks suffer in America (Hughes 120). His poets are loved by people and have been translated to a number of languages globally. He is seen to give praise to people who promote social equality and are not discriminative in nature. His stories were at times unpleasant but he made them come out clearly for people to understand them in a pleasant manner.
Why did people enjoy Langston Hughes poetry?
He was proud of his black race which did not hinder him fro writing poets. He lived with his grandmother after his parents separated which influenced his writings. His grandmother told him of the unending slavery which he describes in his messages and brings it in a manner understandable and pleasant to people. People enjoy his poets as he describes important things about the black race and what most people want to hear. “The Negro Speaks of Rivers” is one of the most enjoyed poets by Langston (Hughes 151). He describes the strength and pride in the black race where he argues that thou seen inferior, the black race is the most superior and powerful race. People enjoy reading his poets which are full of his experiences to many parts of the world. He was an established professional writer who wrote poets mostly based on the culture of black people during his visit to Africa. The poets are interesting and based on travel and real life experiences especially with his family. He gives examples of how the skin color has influence indifferent parts of the world. His writings are full of creativity which he gained from the time he lived in Harlem making his writings interesting and enjoyable. He is regarded as the first poet in America to use the rhythm of music in his work which makes it interesting since it is a combination of music and writings. "The Weary Blues" are examples of colorful music poems which Langston wrote while in clubs enjoying jazz music which enhance him write enjoyable and interesting poems which are known globally (Tracy 102).
Topics in Langston Hughes poetry work
Langston describes the issue of social justice in America. Blacks are treated unequally compared to the whites. This makes Langston write on how his father escaped to Mexico as he ran away from injustices in Harlem. In addition he portrays how loneliness to kids can be caused as a result of separation of the parents. He suffered when his parents separated due to family problems. Parents are suppose to support their kids in careers the kids are interested in which Langston shows how his father wanted him to study engineering. He wanted to become a writer which was supported by his mother unlike the father who could only pay for him to study engineering. Racial discrimination is a topic well discussed by Langston as he shows how blacks suffer in America due to the color of their skin. When he travelled to Italy he realized that skin color was an important factor for one to travel by ship. He describes racial discrimination and injustices from his own experience. Langston shows how financial constraints can lead to loss of career as he describes his experience in Italy (Bloom 117). His poets are loved by people since he comes out clearly to show how neither racial nor other injustices cannot hinder ones success in their career. He is successful and popular globally regardless of his skin color and ethnicity.
Relationship between the year 1920 and Langston
Langston Hughes graduated from high school in the year 1920. He moved to Mexico to live with his father who was living there after he ran away from racial discrimination in Harlem (Haugen 210). His father was not welcoming which caused pain to Langston who wrote his poem titled "The Negro Speaks of Rivers." This is a famous poem discussing the delight of black individuals who are civilized. He learned more about racism and economic developments taking place in Mexico (Haugen 210). Since he was brown and able to communicate in Spanish language, he did not face much racism in Mexico but was able to write a good number of poems.
Langston Hughes influence and connect to Gatsby
Many of Langston’s work have influenced many people. For instance, he has played a critical role in uniting and inspiring large number of black community. This is evidenced when the black community was not appreciated by most of the white society. Additionally, he became the unauthorized poet laureate of the Harlem Renaissance which was the entire movement during the 1920s and 1930s in America in which all black including artists, activists, writers, musicians, and performers had found new ways to walk around and celebrate the black practice (Tracy 102). Through his poems and writings, he has influenced the work many writers. This is due to the fact that his writing was educative and could argue people to leave racism. The fact that Langston had written poem reflecting on his rough upbringing, he has influenced many people who do not have hope for becoming success. Additionally, his experience influences the way people sees life as his grandmother brought him about and through this kind of life he was able to struggle in order to become a successful man who could take care of him and the family. The great Gatsby is connected to Langston in a way that most of his works are related to this novel as the writer was focusing on the issue of racism. From this perspective, it can be seen that most of Langston’s work has influenced many writers especially Fitzgerald who wrote the Great Gatsby (Bloom 117).
Works Cited
Bloom, Harold. Langston Hughes. New York: Blooms Literary Criticism, 2008. Internet resource.
Haugen, Brenda. Langston Hughes: The Voice of Harlem. Minneapolis, Minn: Compass Point Books, 2006. Print.
Hughes, Langston. Selected Poems of Langston Hughes. London: Serpent's Tail, 1999. Print.
Tracy, Steven C. Langston Hughes & the Blues. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 2001. Print.
