Langston Hughes was an influential African American poet and writer born in 1902 in Missouri. He began writing poetry in the 8th grade and had his first poem published called "The Negro Speaks of Rivers". Hughes traveled extensively, listening to jazz and blues music and writing about his experiences. He made important contributions to the Harlem Renaissance in the 1920s through his writings based on life in Harlem. Hughes wrote 16 books of poems, 2 novels, and short stories over his career before passing away in 1967 in New York.

1. LANGSTON HUGHES By : Tony Gaultney Melissa Ferguson Johnny James

2. GROWING UP BORN FEB. 1, 1902 IN JOPLIN MISSOURI BEGAN WRITING POETRY IN THE EIGHTH GRADE WAS THE BROTHER OF JOHN MERCER LANGSTON( FIRST BLACK AMERICAN TO BE VOTED INTO PUBLIC OFFICE). IN COLLEGE THE ONLY WAY HIS TUITION WOULD BE PAYED WAS IF HE STUDIED ENGINEERING LANGSTON SOON DROPPED OUT OF THE DEGREE COURSE TO PURSUE WRITING.

3. POEMS AND WRITINGS HIS FIRST PUBLISHED POEM WAS “THE NEGRO SPEAKS OF RIVERS” . THIS WAS SAID TO BE HIS MOST FAMOUS. LATER HIS POEMS, ESSAYS AND SHORT STORYS WOULD APPEAR IN NAACP PUBLICATION AND MANY OTHER BOOKS AND MAGAZINES ALL OVER THE WORLD. HUGHES TRAVELED ALL OVER THE WORLD WITH HIS WRITINGS, LISTENING TO BLUES AND JAZZ MUSIC WRITING HIS STORIES.

4. I, Too By: Langston Hughes Read By : Melissa Ferguson

5. Travel Hughes traveled to many diverse places throughout the world. From many places such as Africa, Italy, Spain Russia and many others. He spent a great deal of time sharing his stories and experiences with many people throughout the world. Around 1926 He accepted a job with Dr. Carter G Woodson, Editor of the Negro Journal of Life and founder of Black history week, with the new job offer he moved back to his beloved Harlem later that year.

6. THE HARLEM RENISSANCE Langston Hughes is known as one of the biggest contributors to the Harlem Renaissance Many of his writings are based on his life in Harlem during the Renaissance movement in the 1920’s.

7. Life of a Legend Overall he wrote 16 books of poems, 2 novels, and a collection of short stories and television scripts. Langston Hughes died of Cancer on May 22, 1967 at his residence in Harlem. Since then New York City Preservation Commission has renamed his street Langston Hughes Place. http://www.slideshare.net/ajg00260/langston20-hughes1

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