by: Landon Bartholomew

Early Life James Langston Hughes was born in February 1, 1902 in Joplin, Missouri. He lived mostly in Lawrence, Alabama and lived with his grandmother(Mary Langston) during most of his school life. In 1 st grade he attended Topeka when he lived with his mom for a short time. He went back to Lawrence, Alabama for 2 nd and 3 rd grade. Then he went to New York for school during 4 th,5 th, and 6 th grade. After that he went to Central School for 7 th grade, but then his grandmother past away and he went to live with the Reeds who were close friends with his family.

Adult Life After he left Lawrence, Alabama he went to go live with his mother and step-father. He was determined to finish school so he stayed at Cleveland, Ohio and graduated from Central High School. He then later joined Lincoln University and graduated from Columbia University.

Job He later became a poet and his poems were a great contribute to the African American movement. His first published poem was called ”Not without laughter,” which first appeared in He also held some odd jobs working as a busboy, assistant cook, launderer, and traveled to Africa and Europe working as a seaman.

Hughes’s Popularity Hughes was famous for his magnificent poems which helped the movement of the Harlem Renaissance movement. He also help formed the art of jazz.

Hughes’s Poems These are some of Hughes’s famous poems: “Not Without Laughter” “The Negro Speaks of Rivers” “The Weary Blues” “Jazzonia” “Trumpet Player”

Work Cited Langston.html Langston.html ildhood.html ildhood.html