Langston Hughes
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Langston Hughes
Langston Hughes is one of the most influential writers in recent history. The themes of his poems help power the blacks in society to greater equality among whites. The central theme of importance in many of his poems is black affirmation. He is proud of his race and culture and demonstrated it through many poems and works.
"I am a Negro / Black as the night is black / Black like the depths of my Africa" (Negro). This line from a Hughes poem boldly proclaims his love of his culture. Being black is a trait to boast for him and he used his affirmation of blackness to help shape his own poetry. "Everything that distinguished Hughes's poetry from the white avant-garde poets of the twenties revolved around this important affirmation" (Smith). "Negro" centralizes around Hughes letting everyone know that he is unashamed of his heritage, despite the limitations and racism towards blacks at the time. This poem is an example of Hughes helping to motivate and push the black movement...