Langston Hughes

Poems by Langston Hughes

James Mercer Langston Hughes (February 1, 1901 – May 22, 1967) was an American poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist from Joplin, Missouri. One of the earliest innovators of the literary art form called jazz poetry, Hughes is best known as a leader of the Harlem Renaissance. He famously wrote about the period that 'the Negro was in vogue', which was later paraphrased as 'when Harlem was in vogue.'

Growing up in a series of Midwestern towns, Hughes became a prolific writer at an early age. He moved to New York City as a young man, where he made his career. He graduated from high school in Cleveland, Ohio, and soon began studies at Columbia University in New York City. Although he dropped out, he gained notice from New York publishers, first in The Crisis magazine and then from book publishers, and became known in the creative community in Harlem. His first poetry collection, The Weary Blues, was published in 1926. Hughes eventually graduated from Lincoln University.

In addition to poetry, Hughes wrote plays and published short story collections, novels, and several nonfiction works. From 1942 to 1962, as the civil rights movement gained traction, Hughes wrote an in-depth weekly opinion column in a leading black newspaper, The Chicago Defender.

Poems

  • 50-50 Read Poem
  • Acceptance Read Poem
  • Advertisement For The Waldorf-Astoria Read Poem
  • April Rain Song Read Poem
  • Ardella Read Poem
  • As I Grew Older Read Poem
  • Bad Morning Read Poem
  • Bound No’th Blues Read Poem
  • Bouquet Read Poem
  • Brass Spittoons Read Poem
  • Catch Read Poem
  • Children's Rhymes Read Poem
  • Cross Read Poem
  • Cultural Exchange Read Poem
  • Cycle Read Poem
  • Daybreak In Alabama Read Poem
  • Deceased Read Poem
  • Demand Read Poem
  • Democracy Read Poem
  • Dinner Guest: Me Read Poem
  • Dream Boogie Read Poem
  • Dream Deferred Read Poem
  • Dream Variations Read Poem
  • Dreams Read Poem
  • Dying Beast Read Poem
  • Easy Boogie Read Poem
  • Enemy Read Poem
  • Ennui Read Poem
  • Feet o' Jesus Read Poem
  • Final Curve Read Poem
  • Fire-Caught Read Poem
  • For Selma Read Poem
  • Freedom's Plow Read Poem
  • Genius Child Read Poem
  • God Read Poem
  • Gods Read Poem
  • Harlem [Dream Deferred] Read Poem
  • Helen Keller Read Poem
  • I Continue To Dream Read Poem
  • I Dream A World Read Poem
  • I, Too. Read Poem
  • In Time Of Silver Rain Read Poem
  • Jazzonia Read Poem
  • Juke Box Love Song Read Poem
  • Justice Read Poem
  • Kids Who Die Read Poem
  • Let America Be America Again Read Poem
  • Life Is Fine Read Poem
  • Lincoln Monument: Washington Read Poem
  • Lonesome Place Read Poem
  • Love Song for Lucinda Read Poem
  • Madam And Her Madam Read Poem
  • Madam and the Census Man Read Poem
  • Madam And The Phone Bill Read Poem
  • Madam and The Rent Man Read Poem
  • Madam's Past History Read Poem
  • Me And The Mule Read Poem
  • Merry-Go-Round Read Poem
  • Minstrel Man Read Poem
  • Morning After Read Poem
  • Mother To Son Read Poem
  • Motto Read Poem
  • My People Read Poem
  • Negro Dancers Read Poem
  • Night Funeral In Harlem Read Poem
  • Oppression Read Poem
  • Park Bench Read Poem
  • Peace Read Poem
  • Personal Read Poem
  • Pierrot Read Poem
  • Po' Boy Blues Read Poem
  • Prize Fighter Read Poem
  • Problems Read Poem
  • Question [1] Read Poem
  • Quiet Girl Read Poem
  • Sea Calm Read Poem
  • Sick Room Read Poem
  • Silence Read Poem
  • Snake Read Poem
  • Song For A Dark Girl Read Poem
  • Songs Read Poem
  • Still Here Read Poem
  • Suicide's Note Read Poem
  • Sylvester’s Dying Bed Read Poem
  • Thanksgiving Time Read Poem
  • The Ballad Of The Landlord Read Poem
  • The Blues Read Poem
  • The City Read Poem
  • The Dream Keeper Read Poem
  • The Negro Mother Read Poem
  • The Negro Speaks Of Rivers Read Poem
  • The Weary Blues Read Poem
  • Theme For English B Read Poem
  • To Artina Read Poem
  • To Certain "Brothers" Read Poem
  • Trumpet Player Read Poem
  • Wake Read Poem
  • Walkers With The Dawn Read Poem
  • Warning Read Poem
  • Wealth Read Poem
  • When Sue Wears Red Read Poem
  • Will V-Day Be Me-Day Too? Read Poem
  • Wisdom and War Read Poem
  • You and your whole race Read Poem
  • Boogie: 1 A.M. Read Poem
  • Daybreak in Alabama Read Poem
  • Dream Boogie: Variation Read Poem
  • Dream Dust Read Poem
  • Flatted Fifths Read Poem
  • Freedom Read Poem
  • Harlem Read Poem
  • Harlem Sweeties Read Poem
  • Hope Read Poem
  • I look at the world Read Poem
  • I, Too Read Poem
  • If-ing Read Poem
  • Lady’s Boogie Read Poem
  • Lincoln Theatre Read Poem
  • Madam’s Past History Read Poem
  • Mother to Son Read Poem
  • The Negro Speaks of Rivers Read Poem
  • Remember Read Poem
  • Snail Read Poem
  • Theme for English B Read Poem
  • Winter Moon Read Poem
  • You and your whole race. Read Poem