Langston Hughes (1902-1967)

James Mercer Langston or Langston Hughes was born February 1, 1902, in Joplin, Missouri, where his grandmother raised him until he was 13 years old. He moved to Cleveland, Ohio, with his mother and her husband, where he began writing poetry. Langston wrote many other influential pieces that made him known for his discerning portrayals of what life was like in America for Black folks from the twenties through the sixties. His vastly meaningful work was significant in shaping the artistic contribution of the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920’s. Langston Hughes died of complications of prostate cancer in New York City on May 22, 1967.