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Birth
James Mercer LAngston Hughes was born in 1902 in Joplin, Missouri -
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Young Life
Hughes was mostly raised by his grandmother Mary Patterson Langston and lived with her in Lawrence, Kansas. -
Early Life
Hughes often hooped from place to place due to his family's instability. He lived in Kanas, Illinois and Ohio. He attended high school in Cleveland, Ohio where he began writing poetry. -
Education
In 1920, Hughes graduated high school and began attending college at Columbia University. At that time he published his first famous poem: "The Negro Speaks of Rivers" -
Life After College
Langston travel to many countries and cities like Africa and Paris to work on ships. He then published his first poetry collection The Weary Blues in 1926. -
First Novel
Hughes published his first novel called "Not Without Laughter" and it won the Harmon Gold Metal for Literature. -
Creation of Mulatto
In 1931 Hughes co-wrote a play that dove into the concept of race and identity in the South. -
Success
In 1935 Mulatto is produced in Broadway and directed by Martin Jones. Hughes began to start on folk plays. -
Do You Want To Be Free?
poetry, music, and political drama -
No Love Life
Hughes never married and had no kids. He was very engulfed in his work and kept his person al life hidden. Many think he could have been apart of the lgbtq community, but this remains a rumor. -
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More Plays
Mr. Hughes published 4 additional plays. Troubled Island , Harvest ,Jericho-Jim Crow, Street Scene -
Freedom's Plow
Celebrating African American roles in democracy -
Troubled Island
Huges writes a libretto for an opera with composer William Grant Still. -
Troubled ISland Premiere
Troubled Island was premiered at the New York City Opera. -
Communism
In 1953, Langston Hughes testified before Senator McCarthy’s committee on un-American activities. (accused him of being apart of the communist party) -
Simply Heavenly
Talks about life in Harlem, New York -
Second Autobiography
Publishes second autobiography, I Wonder as I Wander -
Black Nativity
Black Nativity becomes one of Hughes's most famous stage pieces. It is the Nativity story with African American gospel music and dance; Premiered in New York. -
More Poems
HUghes publishes his poem The Panther and the Lash, a poem about civil rights and Black pride. -
Death
James Mercer Langston Hughes died on May 22, 1967 in New York from prostate cancer.