Langston Hughes was an American poet, essayist, playwright, and short-story writer. He is considered one of the most renowned contributors to American literature in the twentieth century. He rose to prominence during the Harlem Renaissance and continued to produce experimental and groundbreaking work for the next several decades. Hughes was known for vocalizing the concerns of working-class African Americans. His work was deeply influenced by jazz, and he often wrote in a simple fashion, sometimes using African American vernacular.
Hughes was born in 1902 in Joplin, Missouri, a descendant of prominent abolitionists. His racial heritage was a mix of Indian, African, and French. His father...