Hughes Houses
DREAMS DEFERRED, NEVER!
WHY DO WE HAVE LANGSTON HUGHES HOUSE?
James Mercer Langston Hughes (February 1, 1902 – May 22, 1967) was an American poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist. He was one of the earliest innovators of the then-new literary art form 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 lat\er paraphrased as "when Harlem was in vogue”.
Background
- Born on February 1, 1902, in Joplin, Missouri
- Died on May 22, 1967 (aged 65) in New York City, New York,
- Occupation- poet, columnist, dramatist, essayist, lyricist, novelist
- Nationality- American
- Ethnicity- African American, White American, and Native American
Background (Professional Career)
Hughes published many poems, novels, short stories, works of non-fiction, plays and children's books. His extensive writings allowed him to receive many honors and awards between 1926 and 2002. He has schools and landmarks named after him and even has his face on our U.S. postal stamps.
Notable Achievements
- 1926: Hughes won the Witter Bynner Undergraduate Poetry Prize.
- 1935: Hughes was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship, which allowed him to travel to Spain and Russia.
- 1941: Hughes was awarded a fellowship from the Rosenwald Fund.
- 1943: Lincoln University awarded Hughes an honorary Litt.D.
- 1954: Hughes won the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award.