Week 9 Discussion Board - Main Posting

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Week 9 Discussion Board - Main Posting

As part of my assignment, I will focus on Langston Hughes. A well-known figure from Harlem Renaissance, Hughes became famous through his works as a novelist, playwright and activist within America's diversity movement of 1930s America. Langston Hughes remains one of America's most celebrated literary figures due to his tremendous impact on literature. His writing and poetry captured what was essential in African American life while at the same time reaching across cultures with universal appeal and accessibility. Hughes' poetry such as "The Negro Speaks of Rivers" and "Harlem (Dream Deferred)" has come to be seen as iconic works that depict African Americans' struggles, joys, and hopes in an emotionally powerful manner. Hughes employed vibrant imagery, rhythmic poetry language and emotive themes in his poetry for readers from any background, making his works accessible and enjoyable for them all. Hughes also composed plays, fiction and short stories - such as his iconic "Not Without Laughter". These pieces cemented Hughes' presence within American literature.

Langston Hughes used writing as an advocate for diversity and to fight back against stereotypes perpetuating racism. Through both prose and poetry, Hughes celebrated African Americans' beauty, resilience, humanity, and experiences unique to their identity as individuals while dismantling dehumanizing stereotypes that saw African Americans as less valuable or deserving than white people by emphasizing their inherent value and dignity. Hughes often described their daily lives vividly (Hughes 1994). For instance, in "Mother to Son," Hughes depicts a mother advising her son, emphasizing perseverance and resilience to overcome obstacles. By emphasizing strength in African Americans when faced with hardship, Hughes challenged the idea of inferiority associated with race stereotypes; furthermore, his poetry celebrated their rich cultural heritage and contributions to American society, providing more inclusive and accurate depictions of their lives. Hughes used his writings to address social issues and promote racial equality and justice. He addressed the harsh realities of racial inequality, discrimination, and systemic oppression experienced by African Americans living in America. Hughes boldly declared the demand for equality by...