1. (James Langston Hughes)

2.  Born February 1, 1902 in Joplin, Missouri  Lived with grandmother until 13 (parents split)  Moved to Cleveland, Ohio with mother and stepfather  Leaves for Mexico to visit with father after H.S  Traveled, Wrote, etc..  Instrumental in Harlem Renaissance  Died on May 22, 1967

3.  Attended Columbia University for one year after taking a year off following graduation  Really got into Harlem...became interested and instrumental in the “Renaissance”  Traveled to Africa and Europe as a seaman after leaving Columbia University  Moved to Washington D.C in 1924  In 1929 finished college education at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania

4.  Began seriously writing in high school  First book The Weary Blues published in 1926  Not Without Laughter wins Harmon gold medal for Literature in 1930  Walt Whitman and Carl Sandburg among his greatest influences in writing

5.  Part of Montage of a Dream Deferred  Is the voice/anthem of those who had dreams that were limited and “cut off”  Hughes stated that his work aimed to explain and illuminate the Negro condition in America."  Broke the mindset of not showing and addressing the low class, limited African American life

6.  Simply explores the unknown aspects of never living out a dream. Hughes is speaking from the point of view of the oppressed African American, but the idea applies to everyone. He is simply vocalizing, and writing down the question that we all ask within ourselves sometime in our lives.

7.  Consuelo Kanaga. N.d. Photograph. www.poets.orgWeb. 15 Feb 2012..http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/83  Jackson, Andrew P. "James Langston Hughes." n. page. Web. 15 Feb. 2012..http://www.redhotjazz.com/hughes.html  "Harlem Study Guide." eNotes. (2012): n. page. Web. 15 Feb. 2012..http://www.enotes.com/harlem  "Langston Hughes." n. page. Web. 15 Feb. 2012..http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/83