Addison &+Emily

Langston Hughes



Biography

﻿Langston Hughes was born in Joplin, Missouri on February 1st 1902. He was raised in many places as a child. His grandma raised him in Missouri until he was 13 years old then he moved to Lincoln, Illinois with his mom and eventually he settled with his mom in Cleveland, Ohio. He died on May 22, 1967 because of complications of prostate cancer.

His childhood was complicated. His parents got divorced when he was very, very young, and his father then moved to Mexico. He also moved from state-to-state a few times during his childhood. Langston Hughes spent one year studying at Colombia University for his college degree. He later finished his education at Lincoln University. At those schools he was a good student, and got good grades.

He held a few odd jobs during his lifetime other then being a poet. Some of those jobs were assistant cook, seaman, launderer and busboy. Langston Hughes had no known relationships and was not married, and had no kids. Langston Hughes received 5 notable rewards in his lifetime. They are the Harmon gold medal for literature in 1930. Guggenheim Fellowship award in 1935. Honorary Doctor of Letters from Lincoln University in 1943. NCAAP Spingarn medal in 1960. American Academy Of Arts and Letter awards in 1961. I could not find any funny stories about Langston Hughes. Some books by Langston Hughes are, The Collected Poems Of Langston Hughes, 10/28/1995. Selected Poems Of Langston Hughes, 9/28/1990. Not Without Laughter, 2/15/2008. The Ways of White Folks, 9/28/1990. Finally, The Negro Speaks of Rivers, 1/06/2009.

Styles and Influences

Langston Hughes was a great poet. He was particularly known for his “insightful, colorful portrayals of black life in America from the twenties through the sixties” (poets.org) He wrote all kinds of poems, and other types of writing, including haikus, speeches, and essays, but mostly jazz-sounding poems. These poems usually were about slavery, racism, segregation, and other things like that. He also liked to write about rain. He has a few rain poems, including April Rain Song and In Time of Silver Rain. He also wanted to tell the stories of his people (black Americans) in ways that showed their culture, their suffering, and their love of music. Langston Hughes was named class poet in elementary school, even though he had never written a poem in his entire life. In high school, he was inspired by authors such as Carl Sandburg, Paul Lawrence Dunbar, and Walt Whitman. He started writing poems, won contests, and gained experience. After graduating, he spent a year in Mexico with his father who discouraged him from writing. Afterwards, Hughes got more into writing and started to get his children’s poems published. Then he started getting published in adult books and magazines and magazines, and then enrolled in Columbia University in New York City. After a year, he decided he didn’t like the community and dropped out. However, he continued his writing, gained publicity, and quickly grew to be the poet we know today.

Poems by Langston Hughes

﻿ ﻿Democracy

Democracy will not come Today, this year Nor ever Through compromise and fear.I have as much right As the other fellow has To stand On my two feet And own the land.I tire so of hearing people say, Let things take their course. Tomorrow is another day. I do not need my freedom when I'm dead. I cannot live on tomorrow's bread.Freedom Is a strong seed Planted In a great need.I live here, too. I want freedom Just as you. 

Our Poems

Puppies By Addison Bowden

Puppies, oh puppies, Cute, cuddly and soft. Puppies, oh puppies, Everybody loves them, well why not?

They are fun and energetic, Like, a fur covered sugar cube, Soft, and playful, They will always stand by you, You can hug them, kiss one but just don't beat them, Respect your puppy and it won't bite you.

I love puppies, They are, mans best friend, That is why they're mine, Who, would desert a puppy, Not let them have a home, Shame, on the people who abuse these cute little puppies.

To end this poem, I would like to say, Puppies are cute, and make my day, When they cheer you up, By licking your face, It just makes me, want to say, That puppies are, mans best friend, And need to be treated like any normal man.

The Worker by Emily Goldman

She sings as she works, Picking the cotton, Not enjoying the work, But making it as good as possible.

The make her work all day and night, No breaks, No food, No water.

But still she works, Not complaining, Just singing.

She works so hard, But what does she get? Nothing. Nothing but the joy of singing.

Bibliography

"Langston Hughes." //Poets.org - Poetry, Poems, Bios & More//. Web. 09 May 2011. .

"Langston Hughes Biography - Life, Children, Parents, Name, Story, History, School, Mother, Book, Information, Born, College." //Encyclopedia of World Biography//. Web. 09 May 2011. [].

"Business Books Sale -- Save 45% - Barnes & Noble." //Barnes & Noble - Books, Textbooks, EBooks, Toys, Games, DVDs and More//. Barnes And Noble Book Store. Web. 11 May 2011. 