Langston Hughes
(1902–1967)
Langston Hughes was born in Joplin, Missouri. He was brought up by his mother, who was a schoolteacher, and his grandmother, who had attended Oberlin College before the Civil War. An avid reader since second grade, Hughes wrote his first poem when he was fourteen. When he was sixteen, he visited his father in Mexico and learned to speak and read Spanish. Later, Hughes moved to Harlem in New York City and attended Columbia University. Although his travels took him all over the world, Hughes always considered Harlem his home. His best writing was inspired by the people, music, and art he found there. Until he could support himself from his writing, Hughes worked as a sailor, dishwasher, busboy, cook, and café bouncer. Throughout his life, he encouraged and helped many young African American poets.
