Langston Hughes

Hello, my name is Langston Hughes. I was born on a chilly day, February 1st, 1901. Ever since I was a little boy, I loved words and sounds and music. Listening to the happy music and the busy sounds of my neighborhood made me feel like I had a rhythm inside me. It made me want to create my own music using words. That is how I started writing my very first poems.

My poems are like songs. I loved to write about the everyday lives of Black people. In the 1920s, I lived in a busy and wonderful neighborhood in New York City called Harlem. This was a very special time called the Harlem Renaissance. Many other Black artists, musicians, and writers like me all lived and worked there, sharing our amazing talents with the world. My poems told stories about our big dreams, our happy laughter, and even the times we felt sad.

I wrote many, many poems and stories all through my life. I wanted to share them with everyone. I lived to be 66 years old, and I passed away in the year 1967. But my words are still here for you. My poems and stories live on in books, sharing dreams and music with children and grown-ups all over the world.