Essays On Langston Hughes Poems

The Panther and the Lash: Poems of Our Time (1967) was in press at the time of his death and, in 1973, Good Morning Revolution: Uncollected Social Protest Writings by Langston Hughes posthumously brought to public attention the depth and range of Hughes's politically controversial verse, essays, and other works from earlier in the century.

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Hughes also used the vernacular in his verse, drawing heavily upon the themes, rhythms, and cadences of jazz, blues, and gospel music.

One of his most frequently anthologized poems, “The Negro Speaks of Rivers,” appeared in his first collection, The Weary Blues.

Hughes's literary reputation was built not just on his work as a poet, but on his skill as a prose writer, as well.

One of his most beloved fictional characters, Jesse B.

Critical Reception Throughout his career Hughes encountered mixed reactions to his work.

Many black intellectuals denounced him for portraying unsophisticated aspects of lower-class life, claiming that his focus furthered the unfavorable image of African Americans.

Biographical Information Hughes was born February 1, 1902, in Joplin, Missouri.

During his infancy, his parents separated, and he moved to Lawrence, Kansas, where he was raised primarily by his grandmother.

His second poetry collection, Fine Clothes to the Jew, was well received by mainstream literary critics but roundly criticized by his African American peers and critics—in part for its title, but largely for its frank portrayal of urban life in a poor, black Harlem neighborhood.

While some critics accused Hughes of bolstering negative racial stereotypes through his choice of subject matter, others faulted him for employing vernacular speech and black dialect in the portrayal of the Harlem streets.