The Harlem Renaissance and Langston Hughes
黑人哈莱姆文艺复兴
Visual artists
Novels
Jessie Redmon Fauset — There is Confusion (1924), Plum Bun (1928), The Chinaberry Tree (1931), Comedy, American Style (1933) Rudolph Fisher — The Walls of Jericho (1928), The Conjure Man Dies (1932) Langston Hughes — Not Without Laughter (1930) Zora Neale Hurston — Jonah's Gourd Vine (1934), Their Eyes Were Watching God (1937) Nella Larsen — Quicksand (1928), Passing (1929) Claude McKay — Home to Harlem (1927), Banjo (1929), Gingertown (1931), Banana Bottom (1933) George Schuyler — Black No More (1930), Slaves Today (1931) Wallace Thurman — The Blacker the Berry (1929), Infants of the Spring (1932), Interne (1932) Jean Toomer — Cane (1923) Carl Van Vechten — Nigger Heaven (1926) Eric Walrond — Tropic Death (1926) Walter White — The Fire in the Flint (1924), Flight (1926)
Countee Cullen
The Harlem Renaissance: cultural movement,1920s. "New Negro Movement“, identity awareness, literature, art
Countee Cullen
1. 1903-1946, died of high blood pressure and uremic poisoning 2. New York City? Adoption? 3. Poet, anthologist, novelist, translator, playwright，teacher 4. Close friend: Langston Hughes 5. the most representative voice of the Harlem Renaissance
Family Background
Adopted Foster father: ambivalent 1. close (travel abroad) 2. effeminate man, homosexual Foster mother: girl's clothing transvestism
Remarried: in 1940.Literary Woks
Heritage Atlantic City Waiter Caroling Dusk The Ballad of the Brown Girl Incident On These I Stand
Themes of his poem
Marriage
Wedding: In 1928 he married Yolande Du Bois, the most lavish wedding in black New York history.
江苏省2020高考英语名师原创冲刺复习卷及答案 (9)
江苏省2020高考英语名师原创冲刺复习卷及答案（3）第一部分：听力(共两节，满分20分)略第二部分英语知识运用(共两节，满分35分)第一节单项填空(共15小题；每小题1分，满分15分)请认真阅读下面各题，从题中所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项。
21.Many of the things we now benefit from would not be around______Thomas Edison.A.thanks toB.regardless ofC.aside fromD.but for22.—I can drive you home.—______,but are you sure it’s not too much trouble?A.That would be greatB.Don’t botherC.I’m afraid notD.Take care23.______the students came from different countries,they got along quite well in the summer camp.A.WhileB.UnlessC.SinceD.Until24.It is so cold that you can’t go outside______fully covered in thick clothes.A.ifB.unlessC.onceD.when25.The exhibition tells us______we should do something to stop air pollution.A.whereB.whyC.whatD.which26.Some experts think reading is the fundamental skill upon______school education depends.A.itB.thatC.whoseD.which27.It might have saved me some trouble______the schedule.A.did I knowB.have I knownC.do I knowD.had I known28.______in the poorest area of Glasgow,he had a long,hard road to becoming a football star.A.Being raisedB.RaisingC.RaisedD.To raise29.—Where is Peter?I can’t find him anywhere.—He went to the library after breakfast and______his essay there ever since.A.wroteB.had writtenC.has been writingD.is writing30.They believe that there are transport developments______that will bring a lot of changes for the better.A.out of dateB.out of orderC.around the clockD.around the corner31.Andy is content with the toy.It is______he has ever got.A.a betterB.the betterC.a bestD.the best32.The research group produced two reports based on the survey,but______contained any useful suggestions.A.allB.noneC.eitherD.neither33.—I spent two weeks in London last summer.—Then you must have visited the British Museum during your stay,______you?A.mustn’tB.haven’tC.didn’tD.hadn’t34.All we need______a small piece of land where we can plant various kinds of fruit trees throughout the growing seasons of the year.A.areB.wasC.isD.were35.—Do you think the weather will be fine this spring?—No,we are fortunate.The weatherman forecasts there will be several sand storms.A.ifB.asC.thoughD.unless第二节完形填空(共20小题；每小题1分，满分20分)请认真阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项。
Harlem Renaissance 哈莱姆文艺复兴
The Crisis was a platform where a number of well-
known Harlem Renaissance writers published influential pieces. Some of those contributors are Claude McKay and Hughes. Many of Langston Hughes' poems were published in The Crisis including his first published poem, "The Negro Speaks of Rivers"(1921) and "Lullaby" from the March 1926 publication. Claude McKay published the article, "Soviet Russia and the Negro" in the December 1923 issue from his time abroad.
The Crisis is the official magazine of the National
Association for the Advancement of Colored People(NAACP), and was founded in 1910 by W. E. B. Du Bois (editor) Throughout the Du Bois years The Crisis published the work of many young African-American writers associated with the Harlem Renaissance. Its greatest era as a literary journal was between 1919 and 1926, when Jessie Redmon Fauset was literary editor. Fauset encouraged such writers as Arna Bontemps, Langston Hughes, Countee Cullen and Jean Toomer.
11兰斯顿 休斯
11. Langston HughesLangston Hughes, known as the poet voice of African Americans, was one of the most important writers of the Harlem Renaissance.Langston Hughes was born in nineteen-oh-two. His parents separated when he was little. Langston grew up with his grandmother who told him stories about their family’s fight against racial injustice. He developed a love of reading books as a way to deal with loneliness and a feeling of rejection from his parents. His love for reading grew into a desire to write.As a young man, Langston traveled to Europe and Africa working on ships. He wrote poems and short stories during his travels. A few of the writings he sent home were published, which helped establish him as a professional writer.By nineteen twenty-five, Langston Hughes had returned to the United States and was living in Harlem in New York City. This was during the Harlem Renaissance, a period of great artistic creativity among blacks who lived there.Hughes discovered a new way of writing poetry, using the rhythms of jazz and blues to support his words. His first collection of poetry, called the “Weary Blues”, was published in nineteen twenty-six. Hughes wrote poetry about the common experiences of black people.He also began to write many different short stories that were published in magazines. In these, he was able to discuss ideas related to black pride, racism and other issues of black life.Later, his writings began to examine the unfairness of life in America. He wrote about people whose lives were affected by racism and sexual conflicts, violence in the southern United States, Harlem Street live, poverty, racism, hunger and hopelessness.Hughes wrote one of his most important works in nineteen twenty-six, “The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain”. It spoke of black writers and poets who want to be considered as poets, not black poets.In nineteen fifty-one, Hughes wrote one of his most successful collections of jazz poetry, called “Montage of a Dream Deferred”. The poems are expressions of everyday life in Harlem. They take the reader through one complete day and night in Harlem.Hughes died of cancer in nineteen sixty-seven in Harlem, New York. His home on One Hundred Twenty-Seventh Street has been made a national landmark.(377 words)兰斯顿休斯兰斯顿.休斯被认为是美国黑人诗人的代表，是美国哈莱姆文艺复兴时最著名的作家之一。
Langston Hughes
Or fester like a sore-And then run?
If you have a sore, you want it to dry up so it will heal, but if it festers and runs, that means it is infected and will take longer to heal.
Do you know the rhyme of this short poem?
It is in "a, b, c, d, c, e, e, g, g ," rhyme.
What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun? Or fester like a sore-And then run? Does it stink like rotten meat? Or crust and sugar over-like a syrupy sweet? Maybe it just sags like a heavy load. Or does it explode?
infected with restlessness and dissatisfaction
The dream that festers criminal activity
strike back at those who are deferring the dream.
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Appreciate the poem-------
A Dream Deferred (Hughes' Harlem )
8.Langston Hughes
2013-7-13
14
Harlem Renaissance: In the 1920s in America, there
was an upsurge of Black literature, popularly known as the “Harlem Renaissance”, out of which such eminent literary figures as Langston Hughes grew. So, “Harlem Renaissance” is a burst of literary achievement in the 1920s by Negro playwrights, poets and novelists who presented new insights into the American experience and prepared the way for the emergence of numerous Black writers after mid-twentieth century.
2013-7-13
7
• In many ways Hughes always remained loyal to the principles he had laid down for the younger black writers in 1926. His art was firmly rooted in race pride and race feeling even as he cherished his freedom as an artist. He was both nationalist and cosmopolitan世界性的.
2013-7-13
harlem renaissance 名词解释
Harlem Renaissance 名词解释
哈莱姆复兴（Harlem Renaissance）又称为“黑人文艺复兴”，是发生在1920年代至1930年代，位于纽约哈莱姆区的一个文化和艺术运动。
这一运动代表了非裔美国人在创意、文学、音乐、舞蹈、绘画和戏剧方面的显著发展。
哈莱姆复兴是非裔美国人的文化和艺术的突破，也是被广泛认同的非裔美国文化的起源之一。
它为黑人艺术家和作家提供了展示才华和力量的机会，打破了种族隔离的局限，引领了黑人文化在美国社会中的地位的改变。
在哈莱姆复兴期间，许多重要的非裔美国作家和艺术家涌现出来，如兰斯顿·休斯（Langston Hughes）、波林·洛基（Zora Neale Hurston）、阿龙·道格拉斯（Aaron Douglas）等。
他们的作品通过反映黑人社会和文化的真实性和骄傲感，塑造了黑人文学和艺术的新形象。
哈莱姆复兴不仅仅是一个文化运动，也是为黑人社会争取平等和公正权益的倡导者。
复兴时期的作家、演员和音乐家们通过他们的作品表达了对不平等待遇的抗议，并成为反种族歧视和社会不公的正义斗士。
总的来说，哈莱姆复兴是美国历史上独一无二的文化和艺术运动，它对非裔美国文化、艺术和社会产生了深远的影响，被认为是美国现代文化的重要组成部分。
向某人介绍一位诗人及代表作英语作文
向某人介绍一位诗人及代表作英语作文Sure, I'd love to introduce you to the poet Langston Hughes and some of his representative works.Langston Hughes was an American poet, social activist, and playwright who was a key figure in the Harlem Renaissance, an artistic and cultural movement that took place in the 1920s. He is known for his insightful and powerful poems that often addressed the struggles and joys of being African American in the United States.One of Hughes' most famous poems is "The Negro Speaks of Rivers," which he wrote when he was just 18 years old. In this poem, Hughes uses the metaphor of rivers to symbolize the deep and rich history of African Americans. The poem celebrates the resilience and strength of the African American people, connecting them to the ancient rivers of the world.Another one of his well-known works is "Harlem," also called "A Dream Deferred." This poem explores the frustration and disappointment of African Americans whose dreams have been delayed or denied. Hughes vividly portraysthe feelings of anger, sadness, and hopelessness that arise when aspirations are unfulfilled.In addition to his poetry, Hughes also wrote short stories, novels, and plays that depicted the lives of African Americans. His works often celebrated the beauty of black culture and critiqued the racism and inequality that existed in society.Overall, Langston Hughes' contributions to American literature and culture are significant. His poetry continues to inspire and resonate with readers around the world, making him a timeless and influential figure in the literary world.让我来介绍一下诗人朗斯顿·休斯以及他的代表作品。
Harlem Renaissance
Harlem RenaissanceHarlem Renaissance (HR) is the name given to the period from the end of World War I and through the middle of the 1930s Depression, during which a group of talented African-American writers produced a sizable body of literature in the four prominent genres of poetry, fiction, drama, and essay.Hero / Celebrity(1902—1967)HARLEM RENAISSANCEAfter the American civil war, liberated African-Americans searched for a safe place to explore their new identities as free men and women. They found it in Harlem. Read on to find out how this New York neighborhood became home to some of the best and brightest minds of the 20th century, gave birth to a cultural revolution, and earned its status as "the capital of black America." THE GREAT MIGRATIONThe end of the American Civil War in 1865 ushered in an era of increased education and employment opportunities for black Americans. This created the first black middle class in America, and its members began expecting the same lifestyle afforded to white Americans. But in 1896, racial equality was delivered a crushing blow when the Plessy v. Ferguson Supreme Court case declared racial segregation to be constitutionally acceptable. This created even harsher conditions for African-Americans, particularly in some Southern states that sought to minimize the equality that former slaves and their descendants might aspire toward. The South also became gradually more and more economically depressed as boll weevils began to infest cotton crops. This reduced the amount of labor needed in the South.As a result, blacks began to head to the Northern United States by the millions. Racism, while still a serious obstacle, was considered much less brutal there than in the South. In addition, the North granted all adult men with the right to vote; provided better educational advancement for African-Americans and their children; and offered greater job opportunities as a result of World War I and the industrial revolution. This phenomenon, known as the Great Migration, brought more than seven million African-Americans to the North.HARLEM: THE BLACK MECCAHousing executives planned to create neighborhoods in Harlem designed specifically for white workers who wanted to commute into the city. Developers grew overambitious, however, and housing grew more rapidly than the transportation necessary to bring residents into the downtown area. The once exclusive district was abandoned by the white middle-class, and frustrated developers were forced to cope with lower purchase prices than they first anticipated. White Harlem landlords started selling their properties to black real estate agents such as Philip A. Payton, John E. Nail, and Henry C. Parker. They also began renting directly to black tenants.Meanwhile, the re-development and gentrification of midtown pushed many blacks out of the Metropolitan area. As a result, African-Americans began moving to Harlem en masse; between 1900 and 1920 the number of blacks in the New York City neighborhood doubled. By the time the planned subway system and roadways reached Harlem, many of the country's best and brightest black advocates, artists, entrepreneurs, and intellectuals had situated themselves in Harlem. They brought with them not only the institutions and businesses necessary to support themselves, but a vast array of talents and ambitions. The area soon became known as “the Black Mecca”and “the capital of black America.”THE HARLEM RENAISSANCEDuring the early 1900s, the burgeoning African-American middle class began pushing a new political agenda that advocated racial equality. The epicenter of this movement was in New York, where three of the largest civil rights groups established their headquarters.Black historian, sociologist, and Harvard scholar, W. E. B. Du Bois was at the forefront of the civil rights movement at this time. In 1905 Du Bois, in collaboration with a group of prominent African-American political activists and white civil rights workers, met in New York to discuss the challenges facing the black community. In 1909, the group founded the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), to promote civil rights and fight African-American disenfranchisement.At this same time, the Jamaican-born Marcus Garvey began his promotion of the “Back to Africa movement.” Garvey founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League (UNIA-ACL), which advocated the reuniting of all people of African ancestry into one community with one absolute government. The movement not only encouraged African-Americans to come together, but to also feel pride in their heritage and race. The National Urban League (NUL) also came into being in the early 20th century. Founded by Ruth Standish Baldwin and Dr. George Edmund Haynes, the fledgling organization counseled black migrants from the South, trained black social workers, and worked to give educational and employment opportunities to blacks.Together, these groups helped to establish a sense of community and empowerment for African-Americans not only in New York, but also around the country. In addition, they provided a rare opportunity for whites to collaborate with black intellectuals, social activists, educators, and artists in an attempt to transform a largely segregated and racist American society.Instead of using more direct political means to achieve their goals, African-American civil rights activists employed the artists and writers of their culture to work for the goals of civil rights and equality. Jazz music, African-American fine art, and black literature were all absorbed intomainstream culture, bringing attention to a previously disenfranchised segment of the American population. This blossoming of African-American culture in European-American society, particularly in the worlds of art and music, became known as The Harlem Renaissance.CULTURE COMES TOGETHEROne of the first notable events of the Renaissance came shortly after the NUL began publishing Opportunity: A Journal of Negro Life. Believing that art and literature could lift African-Americans out of their situation, the magazine’s editor, Charles S. Johnson, began printing promising black writers in each issue. During Johnson’s work for Opportunity, he met Jessie Fauset, the literary editor for Du Bois’ NAACP ma gazine, Crisis. Fauset told Johnson about her first novel, There Is Confusion (1924), a story about middle class black women.In 1924, Johnson organized the first Civic Club dinner, which was planned as a release party for Fauset’s book. The party was an i nstant success, and served as a forum for emerging African-American artists to meet wealthy white patrons. The party managed to launch the careers of several promising black writers, including poets Langston Hughes and Countee Cullen.In 1925, shortly after the success of the Civic Club dinner, the magazine Survey Graphic, produced an issue on Harlem. Edited by black philosopher and Howard University professor, Alain Locke, the magazine featured work by prominent black writers of the time period. The magazine published work by writers Cullen, Hughes and Fauset, as well as poet Claude McKay and novelist Jean Toomer. Later that year, Locke expanded the special issue into an anthologycalled The New Negro. The collection fueled America’s growing inter est in African-American writers, pushing black artists to the literary forefront.African-American fine artists such as Aaron Douglas and Charles Alston also got their start through Alain Locke and Charles Johnson, who started publishing the artists’ works as illustrations and cover art. Pulled into the spotlight, these fine artists used their fame as an opportunity to delve into the themes they found problematic to American culture. By introducing the “exoticizing” of Africa and notions of “the primitive” to white America, African-American artists had their first opportunity to explore how these ideas could be used for and against their race.THE JAZZ AGEWith the conclusion of WWI came an end to wartime frugality and conservation. In an era of peace, Americans experienced an economic boom, as well as a change in social morays. Nicknamed “The Roaring 20s” for its dynamic changes, the decade became known for its celebration of excess and its rejection of wartime ideologies. Americans also began investing more time and money in leisure activities and artistic endeavors.Around this same time, Congress ratified the Prohibition Act. While the amendment did not ban the actual consumption of alcohol, it made obtaining it legally difficult. Liquor-serving nightclubs, called “speakeasies” developed during this time as a way to allow Americans to socialize, indulge in alcohol consumption, and rebel against the traditional culture.One of the best speakeasies in Harlem was the Cotton Club, a place that intended to have the look and feel of a luxurious Southern plantation. To complete the theme, only African-American entertainers could perform there, while only white clientele (with few exceptions) were allowed to patronize the establishment. This attracted high-powered celebrity visitors such as Cole Porter, Bing Crosby and Doris Duke to see the most talented black entertainers of the day. Some of the most famous jazz performers of the time - including singer Lena Horne, composer and musician Duke Ellington, and singer Cab Calloway - graced the Cotton Club stage.Attending clubs in Harlem allowed whites from New York and its surrounding areas to indulge in two taboos simultaneously: to drink, as well as mingle with blacks. Jazz musicians often performed in these clubs, exposing white clientele to what was typically an African-American form of musical entertainment. As jazz hit the mainstream, many members of older generations began associating the raucous behavior of young people of the decade with jazz music. They started referring to the 20s, along with its new dance styles and racy fashions, as “The Jazz Age.”THE END OF THE RENAISSANCEAs the 20s came to a close, so did white America’s infatuation with Harlem- and the artistic and intellectual movements surrounding it. The advent of The Great Depression also crushed the wild enthusiasm of “The Roaring 20s,” bringing an end to the decadence and indulgence that fueled the patronage of Harlem artists and their establishments. The depression hit the African-American segment of the population hard; layoffs and housing foreclosures shut many blacks out of the American Dream that previously seemed so close at hand. The increased economic tension of the Depression caused black leaders to shift their focus from arts and culture to the financial and social issues of the time.In addition, the strained relationship between the black community and the white shop-owners in Harlem finally tore the two groups apart in 1935. That alienation was expressed in the Harlem Riot of 1935, the nation’s first modem race riot. The resulting violence finally shattered the notion of H arlem as the “Mecca” for African-Americans, and broke the fleeting truce between white and black America.While the Renaissance as a historical movement was over, the effects it had on modern society were far from finished. The artistic and political movements of the 20s would live on in American culture in the form of new musical expression, award-winning writing and, most importantly, the civil rights movement of the 50s and 60s. These events, and the role Harlem would continue to play after the Renaissance, would change the American cultural landscape forever.Back to topThe Harlem Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned the 1920s and 1930s. At the time, it was known as the "New Negro Movement", named after the 1925 anthology by Alain Locke. Though it was centered in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City, many French-speaking black writers from African and Caribbean colonies who lived in Paris were also influenced by the Harlem Renaissance.[1][2][3][4]The Harlem Renaissance is unofficially recognized to have spanned from about 1919 until the early or mid 1930s. Many of its ideas lived on much longer. The zenith of this "flowering of Negro literature", as James Weldon Johnson preferred to call the Harlem Renaissance, was placed between 1924 (the year that Opportunity: A Journal of NegroLife hosted a party for black writers where many white publishers were in attendance) and 1929 (the year of the stock market crash and the beginning of the Great Depression). Background to HarlemUntil the end of the Civil War, the majority of African Americans had been enslaved and lived in the South. After the end of slavery, the emancipated African Americans began to strive for civic participation, political equality and economic and cultural self-determination. Soon after the end of the Civil War the Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871 gave rise to speeches by African American Congressmen addressing this Bill. By 1875 sixteen blacks had been elected and served in Congress and gave numerous speeches with their new found civil empowerment. The Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871 was renounced by black Congressman and resulted in the passage of Civil Rights Act of 1875, part of Reconstruction legislation by republicans. By the late 1870s, democratic whites managed to regain power in the South. From 1890 to 1908 they proceeded to pass legislation that disenfranchised most Negros and many poor whites, trapping them without representation. They established white supremacist regimes of Jim Crow segregation in the South and one-party block voting behind southern Democrats. The Democratic whites denied African Americans their exercise of civil and political rights by terrorizing black communities with lynch mobs and other forms of vigilante violence[5] as well as by instituting a convict labor system that forced many thousands of African Americans back into unpaid labor in mines, on plantations, and on public works projects such as roads and levees. Convict laborers were typically subject to brutal forms of corporal punishment, overwork, and disease from unsanitary conditions. Death rates were extraordinarily high.[6] While a small number of blacks were able to acquire land shortly after the Civil War most were exploited as sharecroppers.[7] As life in the South became increasingly difficult, African Americans began to migrate North in great numbers.Most of the African-American literary movement arose from a generation that had lived through the gains and losses of Reconstruction after the American Civil War. Sometimes their parents or grandparents had been slaves. Their ancestors had sometimes benefited by paternal investment in social capital, including better-than-average education. Many in the Harlem Renaissance were part of the Great Migration out of the South into the Negro neighborhoods of the North and Midwest. African Americans sought a better standard of living and relief from the institutionalized racism in the South. Others were people of African descent from racially stratified communities in the Caribbean who came to the United States hoping for a better life. Uniting most of them was their convergence in Harlem, New York City.Development of African-American community in HarlemContemporary silent black and white documentary short.During the early portion of the 20th century, Harlem was the destination for migrants from around the country, attracting both people seeking work from the South, and an educated class who made the area a center of culture, as well as a growing "Negro" middle class. The district had originally been developed in the 19th century as an exclusive suburb for the white middle and upper middle classes; its affluent beginnings led to the development of stately houses, grand avenues, and world-class amenities such as the Polo Grounds and the Harlem Opera House. During the enormous influx of European immigrants in the late nineteenth century, the once exclusive district was abandoned by the native white middle-class, who moved further north.Harlem became an African-American neighborhood in the early 1900s. In 1910, a large block along 135th Street and Fifth Avenue was bought by various African-American realtors and a church group. Many more African Americans arrived during the First World War. Due to the war, the migration of laborers from Europe virtually ceased, while the war effort resulted in a massive demand for unskilled industrial labor. The Great Migration brought hundreds of thousands of African Americans to cities like Chicago, Philadelphia, Cleveland, and New York.Despite the increasing popularity of Negro culture, virulent white racism, often by more recent ethnic immigrants, continued to affect African-American communities, even in the North. After the end of World War I, many African American soldiers—who fought in segregated units such as the Harlem Hellfighters—came home to a nation whose citizens often did not respect their accomplishments. Race riots and other civil uprisings occurred throughout the US during the Red Summer of 1919, reflecting economic competition over jobs and housing in many cities, as well as tensions over social territories.AN EXPLOSION OF CULTURE IN HARLEMThe first stage of the Harlem Renaissance started in the late 1910s. 1917 saw the premiere of Three Plays for a Negro Theatre. These plays, written by white playwright Ridgely Torrence, featured African-American actors conveying complex human emotions and yearnings. They rejected the stereotypes of the blackface and minstrel show traditions. James Weldon Johnson in 1917 called the premieres of these plays "the mostimportant single event in the entire history of the Negro in the American Theater."[8] Another landmark came in 1919, when the poet Claude McKay published his militant sonnet, "If We Must Die". Although the poem never alluded to race, to African-American readers heard its note of defiance in the face of racism and the nationwide race riots and lynchings then taking place. By the end of the First World War, the fiction of James Weldon Johnson and the poetry of Claude McKay were describing the reality of contemporary African-American life in America.In 1917 Hubert Harrison, "The Father of Harlem Radicalism," founded the Liberty League and The Voice, the first organization and the first newspaper, respectively, of the "New Negro Movement". Harrison's organization and newspaper were political, but also emphasized the arts (his newspaper had "Poetry for the People" and book review sections). In 1927, in the Pittsburgh Courier, Harrison challenged the notion of the renaissance. He argued that the "Negro Literary Renaissance" notion overlooked "the stream of literary and artistic products which had flowed uninterruptedly from Negro writers from 1850 to the present", and said the so-called "renaissance" was largely a white invention.The Harlem Renaissance grew out of the changes that had taken place in the African-American community since the abolition of slavery, as well as the expansion of communities in the North. These accelerated as a consequence of World War I and the great social and cultural changes in early 20th century United States. Industrialization was attracting people to cities from rural areas and gave rise to a new mass culture. Contributing factors leading to the Harlem Renaissance were the Great Migration of African Americans to northern cities, which concentrated ambitious people in places where they could encourage each other, and the First World War, which had created new industrial work opportunities for tens of thousands of people. Factors leading to the decline of this era include the Great Depression.MusicA new way of playing the piano called the Harlem Stride Style was created during the Harlem Renaissance, and helped blur the lines between the poor Negros and socially elite Negros. The traditional jazz band was composed primarily of brass instruments and was considered a symbol of the south, but the piano was considered an instrument of the wealthy. With this instrumental modification to the existing genre, the wealthy blacks now had more access to jazz music. Its popularity soon spread throughout the country and was consequently at an all time high. Innovation and liveliness were important characteristics of performers in the beginnings of jazz. Jazz musicians at the time like Fats Waller, Duke Ellington, Jelly Roll Morton, and Willie "The Lion" Smith were very talented and competitive, and were considered to have laid the foundation for future musicians of their genre.[9][10]During this time period, the musical style of blacks was becoming more and more attractive to whites. White novelists, dramatists and composers started to exploit the musical tendencies and themes of African-American in their works. Composers used poems written by African American poets in their songs, and would implement therhythms, harmonies and melodies of African-American music—such as blues, spirituals, and jazz—into their concert pieces. Negros began to merge with Whites into the classical world of musical composition. The first Negro male to gain wide recognition as a concert artist in both his region and internationally was Roland Hayes. He trained with Arthur Calhoun in Chattanooga, and at Fisk University in Nashville. Later, he studied with Arthur Hubbard in Boston and with George Henshel and Amanda Ira Aldridge in London, England. He began singing in public as a student, and toured with the Fisk Jubilee Singers in 1911.[11]Characteristics and themesCharacterizing the Harlem Renaissance was an overt racial pride that came to be represented in the idea of the New Negro, who through intellect and production of literature, art, and music could challenge the pervading racism and stereotypes to promote progressive or socialist politics, and racial and social integration. The creation of art and literature would serve to "uplift" the race.There would be no uniting form singularly characterizing the art that emerged out of the Harlem Renaissance. Rather, it encompassed a wide variety of cultural elements and styles, including a Pan-African perspective, "high-culture" and "low-culture" or "low-life," from the traditional form of music to the blues and jazz, traditional and new experimental forms in literature such as modernism and the new form of jazz poetry. This duality meant that numerous African-American artists came into conflict with conservatives in the black intelligentsia, who took issue with certain depictions of black life.Some common themes represented during the Harlem Renaissance were the influence of the experience of slavery and emerging African-American folk traditions on black identity, the effects of institutional racism, the dilemmas inherent in performing and writing for elite white audiences, and the question of how to convey the experience of modern black life in the urban North.The Harlem Renaissance was one of primarily African-American involvement. It rested on a support system of black patrons, black-owned businesses and publications. However, it also depended on the patronage of white Americans, such as Carl Van Vechten and Charlotte Osgood Mason, who provided various forms of assistance, opening doors which otherwise would have remained closed to the publication of work outside the black American community. This support often took the form of patronage or publication. There were other whites interested in so-called "primitive" cultures, as many whites viewed black American culture at that time, and wanted to see such "primitive" in the work coming out of the Harlem Renaissance. As with most fads, some people may have been exploited in the rush for publicity.Interest in African-American lives also generated experimental but lasting collaborative work, such as the all-black productions of George Gershwin's opera Porgy and Bess, and Virgil Thomson and Gertrude Stein's Four Saints in Three Acts. In both productions thechoral conductor Eva Jessye was part of the creative team. Her choir was featured in Four Saints.[12] The music world also found white band leaders defying racist attitudes to include the best and the brightest African-American stars of music and song in their productions.The African Americans used art to prove their humanity and demand for equality. The Harlem Renaissance led to more opportunities for blacks to be published by mainstream houses. Many authors began to publish novels, magazines and newspapers during this time. The new fiction attracted a great amount of attention from the nation at large. Some authors who became nationally known were Jean Toomer, Jessie Fauset, Claude McKay, Zora Neale Hurston, James Weldon Johnson, Alain Locke, Eric D. Walrond and Langston Hughes.The Harlem Renaissance helped lay the foundation for the post-World War II phase of the Civil Rights Movement. Moreover, many black artists who rose to creative maturity afterward were inspired by this literary movement.The Renaissance was more than a literary or artistic movement, it possessed a certain sociological development—particularly through a new racial consciousness—through racial integration, as seen in the Back to Africa movement led by Marcus Garvey. W. E.B. Du Bois' notion of "twoness", introduced in The Souls of Black Folk (1903), explored a divided awareness of one's identity that was a unique critique of the social ramifications of racial consciousness.Influence of the Harlem RenaissanceA NEW BLACK IDENTITYLangston Hughes, novelist and poet, photographed by Carl Van Vechten, 1936"Sometimes I feel discriminated against, but it does not make me angry. It merely astonishes me. How can anyone deny themselves the pleasure of my company? It's beyond me." - Zora Neale Hurston[13]The Harlem Renaissance was successful in that it brought the Black experience clearly within the corpus of American cultural history. Not only through an explosion of culture, but on a sociological level, the legacy of the Harlem Renaissance redefined how America, and the world, viewed African Americans. The migration of southern Blacks to the north changed the image of the African-American from rural, undereducated peasants to one of urban, cosmopolitan sophistication. This new identity led to a greater social consciousness, and African Americans became players on the world stage, expanding intellectual and social contacts internationally.The progress—both symbolic and real—during this period, became a point of reference from which the African-American community gained a spirit of self-determination that provided a growing sense of both Black urbanity and Black militancy, as well as a foundation for the community to build upon for the Civil Rights struggles in the 1950s and 1960s.The urban setting of rapidly developing Harlem provided a venue for African Americans of all backgrounds to appreciate the variety of Black life and culture. Through this expression, the Harlem Renaissance encouraged the new appreciation of folk roots and culture. For instance, folk materials and spirituals provided a rich source for the artistic and intellectual imagination and it freed the Blacks from the establishment of past condition. Through sharing in these cultural experiences, a consciousness sprung forth in the form of a united racial identity.CRITICISM OF THE MOVEMENTMany critics point out that the Harlem Renaissance could not escape its history and culture in its attempt to create a new one, or sufficiently separate from the foundational elements of White, European culture. Often Harlem intellectuals, while proclaiming a new racial consciousness, resorted to mimicry of their white counterparts by adopting their clothing, sophisticated manners and etiquette. This 'mimicry' may also be called assimilation, as that is typically what minority members of any social construct must doin order to fit social norms created by that constructs majority. This could be seen as a reason by which the artistic and cultural products of the Harlem Renaissance did not overcome the presence of White-American values, and did not reject these values. In this regard, the creation of the "New Negro" as the Harlem intellectuals sought, was considered a success.The Harlem Renaissance appealed to a mixed audience. The literature appealed to the African-American middle class and to whites. Magazines such as The Crisis, a monthly journal of the NAACP, and Opportunity, an official publication of the National Urban。
langston_hughes_蓝斯顿·休斯
His style
Unlike other notable black poets of the period, Hughes refused to differentiate between his personal experience and the common experience of black America, he wanted to tell the stories of his people in ways that reflected their actual culture, including both their suffering and their love of music, laughter and language itself. He would also use humor, loneliness, and despair, to imitate the sound of blues and jazz music with words.
• “梦想”代表着美好的 理想和希望，加入没有 梦想，生活就会逝去目 标和方向，就会变得死 气沉沉。 • Dreams 中的梦想还有 其他的含义：是保守种 族歧视之苦的美国黑人 对自由、平等和民权的 向往，是黑人们忍受压 迫、剥削和社会不公正 待遇所不可缺少的精神 支柱。
Dreams
Hold fast to dreams For if dreams die Life is a broken-winged bird That cannot fly. Hold fast to dreams For when dreams go Life is a barren field Frozen with snow.
Me and the Mule
The Harlem Renaissance
Representatives
Jean Toomer wrote short stories like "Bona and Paul" and "Withered Skin of Berries," the plays "Natalie Mann" (1922) and "Balo" (1922), and many poems such as "Five Vignettes," "Skyline," "Poem in C," "Gum," "Banking Coal," and "The First American."
中国. 中国.中学政治教学网崇尚互联共享
Representatives
Langston Hughes published his first collection of verse, The Weary Blues, in 1926, and his novel Not Without Laughter appeared in 1930.
中国. 中国.中学政治教学网崇尚互联共享
The Harlem Renaissance
Feelings were strong, however there was little violence involved and many white accepted it. New ideas and beliefs were expressed in innovative, non- conventional ways. For example, the music style of jazz flourished and improvisation was embraced. Harlem, N. Y. C. became the biggest hot spot in American for any aspiring African American artist. The city came alive at night as bars and clubs burst with music and dancing.
langston hughes简短诗歌英文版
langston hughes简短诗歌英文版全文共3篇示例，供读者参考篇1Langston Hughes was an influential American poet, novelist, and playwright. He was a key figure in the Harlem Renaissance, a cultural movement that took place in the 1920s and 1930s and aimed to celebrate African American culture and heritage. Hughes' work often focused on the struggles and joys of African Americans, and he used his poetry to illuminate issues of racism, injustice, and inequality.One of Hughes' most famous poems is "The Negro Speaks of Rivers," which was published in 1921 when he was just 19 years old. The poem is a powerful reflection on the history and strength of African Americans, drawing connections between the rivers mentioned in the poem and the deep roots of African culture.I've known rivers:I've known rivers ancient as the world and older than the flow of human blood in human veins.My soul has grown deep like the rivers.I bathed in the Euphrates when dawns were young.I built my hut near the Congo and it lulled me to sleep.I looked upon the Nile and raised the pyramids above it.I heard the singing of the Mississippi when Abe Lincoln went down to New Orleans, and I've seen its muddy bosom turn all golden in the sunset.I've known rivers:Ancient, dusky rivers.My soul has grown deep like the rivers.This poem is a beautiful meditation on the interconnectedness of African Americans with the rivers of the world, highlighting the enduring strength and resilience of the African spirit.Another famous poem by Langston Hughes is "Harlem," which was published in 1951 and is often referred to by its opening line, "What happens to a dream deferred?" This poem explores the consequences of deferring one's dreams and the impact of societal oppression on individual aspirations.What happens to a dream deferred?Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun?Or fester like a sore--And then run?Does it stink like rotten meat?Or crust and sugar over--like a syrupy sweet?Maybe it just sagslike a heavy load.Or does it explode?"Harlem" is a powerful and evocative poem that captures the frustration and despair of African Americans who are denied the opportunity to pursue their dreams. Hughes' use of vivid imagery and potent language makes this poem a poignant reflection on the human experience.Langston Hughes' poetry continues to resonate with readers today, as his themes of identity, injustice, and resilience are still relevant in our contemporary society. His evocative language and powerful imagery have cemented his legacy as one of themost important poets of the 20th century, and his work remains a testament to the enduring power of the human spirit.篇2Langston Hughes was one of the most influential poets of the Harlem Renaissance, a cultural movement that emerged in the 1920s and 1930s. Known for his powerful and evocative verses, Hughes's poetry often explored themes of race, identity, and the struggles of African Americans in a racially divided society.One of Hughes's most famous poems is "The Negro Speaks of Rivers," which he wrote when he was just 17 years old. In this poem, Hughes celebrates the rich history and heritage of African Americans, drawing on the imagery of rivers to symbolize the deep roots of black culture. The poem begins with the powerful lines:"I've known rivers:I've known rivers ancient as the world and older than theflow of human blood in human veins."These opening lines establish the theme of the poem and set the tone for the rest of the verse. Hughes goes on to connect therivers to the history of African Americans, referencing the Euphrates, the Mississippi, the Congo, and the Nile as symbols of the resilience and strength of black people throughout the centuries.Another iconic poem by Langston Hughes is "Harlem," also known as "A Dream Deferred." This poem reflects on the frustrations and disappointments faced by African Americans in the face of racism and inequality. The poem poses the question:"What happens to a dream deferred?Does it dry uplike a raisin in the sun?"Through this powerful imagery, Hughes captures the sense of hopelessness and despair that many black Americans experienced during this time.Overall, Langston Hughes's poetry continues to resonate with readers today, as his words speak to the universal themes of struggle, resilience, and the power of the human spirit. His poems are a testament to the enduring legacy of the Harlem Renaissance and the ongoing fight for equality and justice in America. Langston Hughes's work remains a powerful and poignant reminder of the importance of speaking out againstinjustice and celebrating the richness of African American culture.篇3Langston Hughes was a prominent American poet, social activist, and novelist. His work is known for its powerful portrayal of the African American experience and its exploration of themes like inequality, racism, and the search for identity. Hughes' poetry is characterized by its use of simple language, vivid imagery, and a distinct musical quality. Throughout his career, Hughes published numerous collections of poems that continue to resonate with readers today.One of Hughes' most famous poems is "Harlem," which is also known as "A Dream Deferred." This poem explores the consequences of delayed dreams and the impact of unfulfilled aspirations. The opening lines of the poem pose a series of questions: "What happens to a dream deferred? / Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun?" This imagery of a dried-up raisin conveys a sense of loss and disappointment, illustrating the way unfulfilled dreams can wither and fade away.Hughes' poetry often reflects his commitment to social justice and his desire to bring about change. In "I, Too," Hughescelebrates the resilience and strength of the African American community in the face of oppression. The poem asserts the speaker's identity and asserts his place at the proverbial table, declaring, "I am the darker brother. / They send me to eat in the kitchen / When company comes." Despite being marginalized and excluded, the speaker asserts his worth and declares his right to claim his space and demand equality.Hughes' poetry also explores themes of heritage, tradition, and cultural pride. In "The Negro Speaks of Rivers," Hughes traces the history of the African diaspora through a series of powerful images: "I've known rivers ancient as the world and older than the flow of human blood in human veins." These lines evoke a sense of connection to the past and highlight the enduring presence of African culture in the world.Overall, Langston Hughes' poetry continues to be celebrated for its powerful language, evocative imagery, and timeless relevance. Through his work, Hughes made a significant impact on American literature and helped to shape the cultural and political landscape of his time. His poems remain a testament to the enduring power of art to inspire, provoke, and challenge readers to think differently about the world around them.。
哈莱姆复习
The Connotation of Multiculturalism 多元文化主义的内涵
It is a conception of culture, it thinks that all cultures are equal and none of them
It is a conception of history（历史观）because it pay attention to minorities（少数 can impose their own standards to others.
哈莱姆文艺复兴
Harlem Renaissance
Group： 潘伊涵 黄佳燕 叶露怡 洪珍茹 胡梦丹
The Brief Introduction
目录
Contents
Harlem Renaissance and multi-culture
The Relationship between American Dream And Racial DiscriminThe American Dream
elements
Everyone will have equal rights Everyone will have freedom of worship
America can provide opportunity success to everyone Success depends on your ability and endeavor，rather than family backgrounds
The Representative Personage
Langston Hughes(1902-1967) was an American poet, social activist, novelist, playwright(剧作家).
穿越多个时空与诗人对话作文
穿越多个时空与诗人对话作文英文回答：Travelling through multiple timelines and having conversations with poets sounds like an incredible adventure. As a time traveler, I would be thrilled to meet some of the greatest poets from different eras and engagein conversations about their works and their perspectives on life and art.One poet I would love to meet is William Shakespeare. I would ask him about his inspiration behind his sonnets and plays, and how he managed to create such timeless and memorable characters. I would also inquire about his thoughts on love and the human condition, as these themes are prevalent in his works.Another poet I would be eager to converse with is Langston Hughes. I would be curious to know about his experiences as an African American poet during the HarlemRenaissance and how he used his poetry to express the struggles and aspirations of his community. I would ask him about the significance of his famous poem "Harlem" and how it reflects the hopes and dreams of African Americans during that time.中文回答：穿越多个时空与诗人对话，听起来像是一次令人难以置信的冒险。
关于黑人的英语作文
关于黑人的英语作文In the tapestry of human history, the thread of blackpeople's resilience and contributions stands out as one ofthe most vibrant and enduring. Despite facing numerous challenges and adversities, black individuals haveconsistently demonstrated an indomitable spirit and have made significant impacts on various fields.From the early days of the transatlantic slave trade, where millions of Africans were forcibly taken from their homelands and subjected to the horrors of slavery, to the present day where black people continue to fight for equality and justice, the story of black resilience is a testament to the human spirit. The struggle for civil rights in the United States,led by figures such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks, is a powerful example of the determination to overcome oppression and achieve equality.In the realm of arts and culture, black people have made indelible contributions that have shaped the world. TheHarlem Renaissance of the 1920s was a cultural, social, and artistic explosion that introduced the world to the talentsof black writers, musicians, and artists. Figures like Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, and Duke Ellington lefta lasting legacy that continues to influence contemporary culture.In science and technology, black inventors and innovatorshave made groundbreaking discoveries that have improved the lives of millions. Garrett Morgan's invention of the traffic signal, Charles Drew's work in blood plasma preservation, and the achievements of Katherine Johnson in the field of space exploration are just a few examples of the significant contributions made by black individuals.The world of sports has also been profoundly influenced by black athletes. From Jesse Owens' triumph at the 1936 Berlin Olympics to Serena Williams' dominance in tennis, black athletes have not only excelled in their respective sports but have also used their platforms to advocate for social change.In conclusion, the story of black people is one of perseverance, creativity, and innovation. Their contributions to society are vast and varied, and their legacy continues to inspire and influence future generations. It is essential to recognize and celebrate the achievements of black individuals as part of a collective human heritage that enriches us all.。
Harlem-Renaissance-哈莱姆文艺复兴(共25张)
第4页，共25页。
Notable Figures and Their Works
Authors
• James Weldon Johnson
(1871–1938), author of the pioneering novel Autobiography of an Ex-
第16页，共25页。
• Nicholas Brothers The Nicholas Brothers were a famous African-American team of dancing brothers, Fayard Antonio Nicholas (1914–2006) and Harold Lloyd Nicholas (1921– 2000).
第12页，共25页。
参考 译文 (cānkǎo)
梦想 紧紧抓住梦想 梦想若是消亡 生活就像断翅的鸟儿 再也不能飞翔 紧紧抓住梦想 梦想若是消丧 生活就像贫瘠的荒野 雪覆冰封，万物不再生长
第13页，共25页。
A Brief Analysis
“Dreams” is a poem of hope. This poem
Harlem：Negro Metropolis（1940）.
第6页，共25页。
• Countee Cullen (1903 – 1946) was another important black poet. Cullen helped bring more Harlem poets to public notice by editing Caroling Dusk: An Anthology of Verse by Negro Poets in 1927.
文学现象英文作文
文学现象英文作文Title: Literary Phenomena: Exploring the Depths of Cultural Expression。
Literature, as a mirror reflecting the intricacies of human existence, manifests itself in various forms and shapes across different cultures and epochs. From the ancient epics of Homer to the contemporary novels of Haruki Murakami, literary phenomena have continually captivated audiences and scholars alike. In this essay, we delve into the essence of literary phenomena, exploring their significance, diversity, and enduring appeal.Firstly, literary phenomena serve as windows into the collective consciousness of societies. Through narratives, poems, and dramas, authors articulate the joys, sorrows, struggles, and triumphs of humanity. Consider, for instance, the enduring popularity of Shakespeare's plays. Despite being penned centuries ago, the themes of love, power, and betrayal in works like "Romeo and Juliet" and "Hamlet"resonate with audiences today, illustrating the timeless nature of human emotions and dilemmas.Moreover, literary phenomena often reflect the cultural, social, and historical contexts in which they emerge. Take the Latin American boom of magical realism in the mid-20th century, exemplified by the works of Gabriel GarcíaMárquez and Isabel Allende. Rooted in the region's rich storytelling traditions and influenced by political upheavals, these novels blend reality with fantasy to offer profound insights into the Latin American experience. Similarly, the Harlem Renaissance in the 1920s saw African American writers like Langston Hughes and Zora NealeHurston reclaiming their narratives and challenging prevailing racial stereotypes through poetry, fiction, and essays.Furthermore, literary phenomena possess the power to provoke thought, stir emotions, and inspire action.Consider the impact of dystopian literature such as George Orwell's "1984" and Margaret Atwood's "The Handmaid's Tale." By envisioning bleak futures marked bytotalitarianism and oppression, these novels compel readers to reflect on the dangers of unchecked power and the importance of safeguarding individual freedoms. Likewise, the testimonial literature of Holocaust survivors like Elie Wiesel's "Night" bears witness to the horrors of genocide, urging humanity to confront the darkest chapters of its history and strive for a more just and compassionate world.In addition, literary phenomena serve as catalysts for cultural exchange and understanding. Translation enables works of literature to transcend linguistic barriers, allowing readers worldwide to access diverse perspectives and voices. The global popularity of Japanese manga, for instance, has facilitated cross-cultural dialogue and appreciation, fostering connections between enthusiasts from different corners of the globe. Similarly, initiatives like literary festivals, book fairs, and online reading communities provide platforms for writers and readers to engage in dialogue, exchange ideas, and celebrate the richness of global literary heritage.In conclusion, literary phenomena constitute a richtapestry of human creativity, imagination, and expression. From ancient myths to contemporary bestsellers, literature continues to shape our perceptions, challenge our assumptions, and illuminate the human condition. By exploring the significance, diversity, and enduring appeal of literary phenomena, we gain deeper insights into ourselves and the world around us, reaffirming the timeless power of stories to connect, inspire, and transform.。
- 1、下载文档前请自行甄别文档内容的完整性，平台不提供额外的编辑、内容补充、找答案等附加服务。
- 2、"仅部分预览"的文档,不可在线预览部分如存在完整性等问题,可反馈申请退款(可完整预览的文档不适用该条件!)。
- 3、如文档侵犯您的权益，请联系客服反馈,我们会尽快为您处理(人工客服工作时间：9:00-18:30)。
13
When the Spanish Civil War broke out, he followed Hemingway and went to Spain as a reporter, writing about the black soldiers who fought Fascism with the International Brigade.
5
The most important person in the Harlem Renaissance was Langston Hughes known as Black America’s poet laureate, who ultimately outgrew the movement, and developed into one of the major Black authors to help to make Black culture.
7
His Life
grandmother, when his grandmother died, his mother took him from city to city, looking for work. Eventually they settled in Cleveland, Ohio, where Hughes went to high school. He began to write poetry which was very much influenced by the eminent Chicago poets, Carl Sandburg and Vachel Lindasay, and he edited the school literary magazine. He then went to New York to go to college, and he enrolled at Columbia University While he worked as a delivery boy to putobiography and he translated Spanish and French poetry.There was no literary form which he did not master, and his influence in encouraging other black writers was enormous. In 1960, he was awarded a medal as America’s foremost Negro writer.
11
Delighted, Vachel Lindsay read the poems to the important literary gathering, and newspapers across America announced Lindsay’s discovery of a “Negro waiter-poet”.
17
His Style and Point of View
Hughes often wrote his poetry with short lines and the strong rhythm of jazz, when he gave poetry reading, he was the poet to introduce musical backgrounds to enhance the poetry, an idea which was copied by other poets. Always writing from the point of the oppressed, he insisted that humor was a necessary weapon in human struggle.
6
Langston Hughes (1902-1967)
His Life---Langston Hughes was born in a town in Missouri on February 1, 1902. Soon after his birth, his father abandoned the family, divorced his wife and went to Mexico, so Hughes was brought up by his mother and
2
The Harlem Renaissance
Here in Harlem Black writers wrote free of conventional restrictions, to say what they wanted to say without having to suffer any oppression by the whites, without even seeing any whites.
4
But gradually they came to the realization that this was not what they wanted, and that this was not where they belonged. They belonged with the Blacks, and so moved over to write for the Blacks. As a result, they managed to build a counter culture, a battle culture, a literature which reflects the feeling, the experience, the history, and the ambitions of the Black people.
10
with twenty-five cents. He needed a job immediately, and he found one as a waiter in a hotel in Washington, D.C. By a stroke of luck, the poet Vachel Lindsay came to this very hotel to address a literary group. Langston Hughes put three of his poems beside Lindsay’s plate while he waited on him at table.
16
He died at the age of 65 having written more than 40 books. These included 7 novels, 6 plays, 2 collections of short stories, 7 books for children, 2 volumes of autobiography and 10 volumes of autobiography and 10 volumes of poetry.
The Harlem Renaissance and Langston Hughes
1
The Harlem Renaissance
Black literature flourished in the 1920s in the Northeast part of New York City called Harlem, a neighborhood of poor black slums.In the early 1920s African American writers, painters, photographers, musicians congregated in New York city, started magazines, published anthologies, and promoted the creative work of the “New Negro.” Then, Black literature developed into an upsurge which has come to be known as the Harlem Renaissance.
8
expenses. He soon dropped out because he spent more time exploring Harlem, the black section of New York, than he spent on his studies. Hughes took a job as a seaman, much as O’ Neill had done, and set out to see the world.
3
A paradox in this upsurge was the fact that nearly all the Black writers in the Renaissance had white patrons. They tried to please the whites, get published by white publishers for a white audience, and get paid well for their books.
A literary magazine offered him a scholarship to Lincoln University in
Pennsylvania, which he gladly accepted .
12
He published two volumes of poetry before he graduated in 1929. Langston Hughes’s poetry was an outcry for justice to American blacks. In the 1930’s he spent over a year in Russia and he visited black nations in the Caribbean, but he came back to America and joined the Communist Party.