1. Langston Hughes: The Epic Saga Brought to you by: – Bennett Stein – Ryan Perkins And generous donations from: – Phranque International – Land-Fish Law & Associates – The Squimm Group

2. So Who Was Langston Hughes? Some guy born at the age of four on February 1 st, a year before the death of George Gabriel Stokes.  His real name was James Mercer Langston Hughes, but don’t tell the feds. Born in Joplin Missouri, where he didn’t spend most of his time Spent most of his time in Lawrence, Kansas A map of Missouri that you cannot read

3. Who Were His Parents? James Nathaniel Hughes (father) Carrie Langston Hughes (mother, often referred to as “the other Langston Hughes” James abandoned his family and went to Mexico and Cuba because he didn’t like racism in the United States. Cuba

4. How Many More Days of School Do We Have? Langston started to live with his grandmother in Lawrence. She inspired him and his later poetry through the telling of traditional stories. This instilled a sense of racial pride in young Langston The turbulence of his youth also inspired much of his poetry. Not Langston Hughes. We actually have no idea who he is. But he is happy.

5. What Kind of Education Did He Have? More than you. And probably more than Mr. Ashley Attended grammar school in Lincoln, Illinois, while living with his mother. – Labeled as poet of his class Began true writing in Cleveland, Ohio, during High School – Edited school paper – Wrote plays – Also wrote poems (surprisingly) Attended some college at Columbia University – Became acquainted with Harlem Graduated from Lincoln University Logo of Columbia (pixilated)

6. What Else did He Do? Traveled To: – Europe – Russia – Africa – The Caribbean This influenced his diverse writings and led him to join and inspire several movements and organizations: – The Communist Party – The Harlem Renaissance – The Civil Rights Movement

7. But Then What Happened? A: He died  Q: Of What? A: Prostate Cancer Q: Eww A: That’s right Q: When? A: Look it up.. Something like 1967

8. “The Negro Speaks of Rivers” By Langston Hughes

9. Background Written in 1920 On a locomotive journey from Illinois to Mexico Written on back of an envelope First published a year later in The Crisis magazine Dedicated to W.E.B. DuBois

10. General Meaning Depicts journey of mankind and struggle of black people in the United States

11. I’ve known rivers ancient as the world and older than the/flow of human blood in human veins Shows connection to first people of the world Feels pride in this

12. “My soul has grown deep like the rivers” First of two times this line appears Only acknowledges deep ancestral link this time

13. “I bathed in the Euphrates when dawns were young” Euphrates river- where first civilization began His ancestors impacted how civilization is today

14. “I looked upon the Nile and raised the pyramids above it” Beginning of black enslavement By the Pharaohs of Egypt His people show a divine strength in seeing and creating

15. “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.” Slaves freed thousands of years later in the US Emancipation Proclamation Nations imperfect history improves

16. “My soul has grown deep like the rivers,” Second and final time used This time implies that all the experiences of his people are a part of him

17. Use of river Connects people’s lives of past and present Connects time periods and places Completes full story

18. Poetic Techniques Structure- flows and looks like a river Connation of “I” throughout poem is black men and women as a people

19. Psst.. Want a Bibliography? Gates, Henry and McKay, Nellie. "Langston Hughes (1902-1967)." African American Literature. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 1997. Hughes, Langston. “The Big Sea: An Autobiography”. New York: Hill and Wang, 1940 Hughes, Langston. "Selected Poems of Langston Hughes." Selected Poems of Langston Hughes. New York: Vintage Classics, 1959. Rampersad, Arnold. “The Life Of Langston Hughes”. New York: Oxford University Press, 1986. Rollins, Charlemae H.. “Black Troubadour: Langston Hughes”. Chicago: Rand McNally, 1970.