“What happens to a dream deferred?” This is one of James Mercer Langston Hughes’ famous quotes. Hughes is a poet and there are tons of fun in writing. His early years prep him for his later years of passionate writing. Hughes was one of the writers for his high school newsletter and soon after his love literature became all that he knewughes produced a very well known poem at the age of 17. He also wrote Jazz poetry which made him one of the earliest innovators of that genre. His poetry was everything and that made him who he was. Through his words, he changed the world through his poetry, novels, and play. He advanced correspondence, censured prejudice and shamefulness. He was a light that shined brightly through the darkness.
On February 1, 1902, in Joplin, Missouri Langston Huges was born. Hughes’ parents divorce each other when he was just a child. His father moved to Mexico and he went to live with his grandmother. Then Hughes went to stay with his mom and his stepdad in Lincoln, Illinois. This is where Langston started writing poetry. They later moved to Cleveland, Ohio. He went to state-funded schools in Kansas and Illinois. Subsequent to moving on from high school in Cleveland in the year 1920, he later went to Columbia University in New York. Finding the climate of people at Columbia unpleasant, Hughes left following a year. He cruised on a journey and later went to Washington to live with his mom. Hughes continued his studies in 1925 and graduated from the University of Lincoln in the year 1929.
James Mercer Langston Hughes lived in a world where people of his color weren’t heard. He became an impact during the 1920s because people wanted a voice and he was their voice. His work showed the significance of Negroes and promoted equality and to show the world that he is here. His artistic skill helped start the movement. He later became an important leader in the Harlem Renaissance. Langston Hughes helped an artistic movement, promoted peace and equality, and his work won many awards. His words were his weapon and he used it well. He wrote poetry, poems, and short stories to show his love for African Americans. He was a great writer and an even greater influencer.
Langston Hughes fought against racism and promoted equality. He wanted justice for African American people. He told their stories through his novels, plays, poems and children’s books. He wanted people to be heard and he was their voice. After the year 1924 Hughes Opportunity magazine’s scholarly challenge, which is the place he won a prize in verse. Later that equivalent year at the Amy Spingarn Contest in Crisis magazine, he won verse and exposition prizes. In 1926 he was given a prize from Witter Bynner for participating in a contest.
In 1927, Hughes was given an award called Palms magazine. Langston Hughes got a grant to Lincoln University in Oxford, Pennsylvania, where he got his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1929. After one year, his previously distributed novel, called Not Without Laughter, won the Golden Harmon Award for best novel. He won a Guggenheim Fellowship for innovative work in 1935, and a Rosenwald Fellowship later in 1941. He was granted a privileged Doctorate of Literature 1943 by Lincoln University, again later in 1960 by Howard University, but again later in 1964 by Western Reserve University.
In 1947, he was awarded a grant by the National Institute and American Academy of Arts and Letters. In 1954, Hughes won the Anisfeld-Wolfe Award for the best book on racial relations. In 1960, he received the Spingarn Medal from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
After he passed on May 22, 1967, in New York, his house at 20 East 127th Street in Harlem, New York was given milestone status by the New York City Preservation Commission. His square of East 127th Street was renamed ‘Langston Hughes Place.’
To conclude, it is evident that Hughes faced many highs and lows in his emotions during the very beginning to the end of his career just like anyone else, especially during his time. Such as self-doubt, fear, frustration, discouragement, anxiety. On good days, confidence, hope, enthusiasm, joy, and dedication.
However, instead of letting the bad days and sleepless nights stop him, he posed a question, “What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up Like a raisin in the sun?… Or does it explode?” Through his hard work, accomplishments, and love for his people, he made up his mind. Which was to not find out the answer to that answer question. Rather then maybe, he had found that throughout his many different methods of doing so, From anyplace that you’re needed to be if you’re truly needed there.
