LANGSTON HUGHES

His writing as an African American was influenced by the social

issues of his time…….

Cierra Johnson Eng102 T/4

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Jim Crow Laws

Segregation

Education

Health Care

His response to this was his poem “Children’s

Rhyme”

Public Transportation

Voting

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Children’s Rhymes By what sends

The white kidsI ain’t sent

I know I can’t be president.What don’t bug white kids

sure bugs me. We know everybodyain’t free

Lies written down For white folks ain’t

for us a-tallLiberty and Justice

Huh- For All?

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Segregation all over the land….

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World War II

“Will V-day Be Me- day too?”

In this poem Langston Hughes was speaking on the unfair and unequal treatment of the

black World War II soldiers. These young men who were fighting for democracy of America in

a foreign land( and had no rights at home). Some solders were lynched while still in there

uniforms upon returning home. He felt this injustice at home was a disservice to the entire

country.

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Will V-day Be Me-Day Too?Over There, World War II. Dear Fellow Americans, I write this letter Hoping times will be better When this war Is through. I'm a Tan-skinned Yank Driving a tank. I ask, WILL V-DAY BE ME-DAY, TOO? I wear a U. S. uniform. I've done the enemy much harm, I've driven back The Germans and the Japs, From Burma to the Rhine. On every battle line, I've dropped defeat Into the Fascists' laps. I am a Negro American Out to defend my land Army, Navy, Air Corps-- I am there. I take munitions through, I fight--or stevedore, too. I face death the same as you do Everywhere.

*This is a excerpt out of the poem.

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African American World War IIsoldiers

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"Negro members of the 477th Antiaircraft Artillery, Air Warning Battalion, study maps in the operations section at Oro Bay, New

Guinea." November 15, 1944. Pvt. Edward Grefe. 111-SC-305909

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Democracy will not comeToday, this year

Nor everThrough compromise and fear

I have as much rightAs the other fellow has

To standOn my two feet

And own the landI tire so hearing people say,

Let’s things take their course.Tomorrow is another day

I do not need my freedom when I’m deadI cannot live on tomorrow’s bread

Freedom Is sharing seedPlanted In a great need.

I live here too.I want freedom

Just as you

Democracy

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Justice

That justice is a blind Goddess Is a thing to which

We blacks are wise: Her bandages hide two festering sores that once perhaps

were eyes.

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Langston Hughes was born in 1902 around the turn of the century. As a child he experienced racial segregation and later in life was blessed with the gift to write. Langston Hughes used his gift of writing to be a voice to the nation. He used his poems to stir the conscious of the masses. He wrote about political, social, and other issues facing African American’s. His weapon of choice was his pen. Langston Hughes died in1967 and left a rich legacy of poems behind.

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Some of Langston Hughes Literary Works

I, Too, Sing AmericaJustice

Mother to SonDream Deferred

DemocracyThe Negro Speaks of Rivers

Negro MotherChildren’s Rhymes

Po’ Boy BluesCultural Exchanges

• He also wrote numerous plays, essay, and his autobiography

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Pictures Courtesy of:

http://www.montgomeryboycott.com/article_overview.htm

http://www.everyculture.com/multi/A-Br/African-Americans.html

http://students.cis.uab.edu/rwians/Unethical%20Research.htm

http://www.crmvet.org/images/imgselma.htm

http://www.archives.gov/research/african-americans/ww2-pictures/

http://www.popdecay.com/2010/10/26/1961-freedom-riders-call-for-prisoners-release/7231

http://www.xtimeline.com/evt/view.aspx?id=67197

http://1hiphopucit.com/2011/02/happy-birthday-langston-hughes-video/