Lagston Hughes

" He was called ‘ Shakespeare in Harlem,’ The blues poet, the ‘Simple’ man on the street, The voice of Black Harlem " (Tolson 1) Possessing qualities unlike any other, Langston Hughes believed that there was no difference between the common experiences of Black America and his own personal experiences. "His life and work were enormously important in shaping the artistic contributions of the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920 ‘s " (Tolson 1) Hughes wrote vividly about the life, luxury, and hardships of the poor black working class. Langston Hughes’ poetry proved to be a primary influence in shaping of the Harlem Renaissance, for his poetry was a personal account attempted to raise the awareness and consciousness of America during this time period.

" The Negro speaks of Rivers" not only reflects Hughes personal encounter with the crossing of the Mississippi river, however, utilizes metaphors to reflect African history. "Hughes did not specifically reference any one particular African-American, nor did he imply that he is the speaker. The term ‘Negro’ in the title simply refers to the African-American population as a whole and their collective experiences from Africa to America " (M.R.L) Hughes indirectly uses his personal experience to relate the transition of the African slaves from Africa to America:

" 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 pyramid 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 sunset (Hughes 55).

Hughes begins in Africa. He bathes in the Euphrates River, then builds his house on the Congo River, and looks upon the Nile River, the three most prominent rivers in Africa. The transition from Africa to America begins when Hughes hears the singing of the Mississippi, and follows it down to New Orleans. In the early 1900 ‘s, Hughes crossed the Mississippi River on his way through the south (Meltzer 33). " In this poem ‘The Negro speaks of Rivers, " Langston Hughes chronicled the journey of Africans from their native homeland to their dispersal and enslavement of America" (M.R.L) Langston Hughes utilizes his personal experience of crossing the Mississippi River and equates it with a river metaphor, the African descendents journey the America (Tolson 6).

Langston Hughes was hired on a steward on the SS West Hesseltine to Dakar, Africa. He felt a bond with the black dockworkers that were being ordered around by the white men. Although Langston may have felt a common bond, the Africans said they had " nothing in common with him because he had light skin and straight hair, and they considered him to be a white man" (Jackson 5). "Langston Hughes was seen as to black for America and too white for Africa" (Reuben 4). The poem " The cross", talks of the conflicts Hughes felt:

" My Old man died in a fine big house.

My ma died in a shack,

I wonder where I’m going to die,

Being neither white nor black."

Once again Hughes uses his personal experiences as a basis fro his poetry.

"October 16" is one of Langston Hughes early poems that recall memories from his past. His grandmother, Mary Langsto.. ...n, raised Langston Hughes until he was thirteen years old (berry 12). During this time, Hughes grandmother, with the help of her first husband Lewis Sheridan Leary, were conductors on the Underground Railroad in 1858. In 1859 Leary rode with john brown and was killed trying to escape after the raid on the arsenal at Harper’s ferry (berry 14). Mary was given the " bloody shawl" that Sheridan had warn when he died. " Young Langston would often see it draped around her shoulders while she rocked in her favorite chair and told him heroic stories, and on the chilly