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Black History: 100th Birthday of Langston Hughes
BLACK HISTORY MONTH: FEBRUARY 2002
LANGSTON HUGHES 1902-2002
Happy 100TH Birthday, Langston Hughes!
Born February 2, 1902 in Joplin, Missouri
Died May 22, 1967 in New York City.
LANGSTON HUGHES 1902-2002
Happy 100TH Birthday, Langston Hughes!
Born February 2, 1902 in Joplin, Missouri
Died May 22, 1967 in New York City.
BLACK HISTORY MONTH: FEBRUARY 2002
LANGSTON HUGHES 1902-2002
Happy 100TH Birthday, Langston Hughes!
Born February 2, 1902 in Joplin, Missouri
Died May 22, 1967 in New York City.
Langston Hughes was an outstanding African-American poet. His writings, especially his poetry, are classics of American literature. He wrote 10 books of poetry, 5 novels, 1 play, 5 books of humor featuring his famous "Simple" character, 6 books for young people on Africa, jazz, African-American history and the West Indies, 4 biographies, 1 autobiography, 1 anthology and 3 history books on African-American history.
His life had its ups and downs politically, but he never named names to the witchhunting, House Un-American Activities Committee, and he always actively promoted African-American culture and history.
A commemorative stamp has been issued in honor of the centenary of his birth and of his work. For the announcement, see: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/020104/180/vva8.html
Langston Hughes wrote many outstanding poems, which should be familiar to every American high school graduate. There is one that remains my favorite, "Harlem." It was the basis of a play by Lorraine Hansberry, "A Raisin in the Sun," and the play was the basis for a movie with the same name.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
HARLEM by Langston Hughes
What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore--and then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over--like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sags like a heavy load.
Or does it explode?
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Happy 100th Birthday, Langston Hughes!
LANGSTON HUGHES 1902-2002
Happy 100TH Birthday, Langston Hughes!
Born February 2, 1902 in Joplin, Missouri
Died May 22, 1967 in New York City.
Langston Hughes was an outstanding African-American poet. His writings, especially his poetry, are classics of American literature. He wrote 10 books of poetry, 5 novels, 1 play, 5 books of humor featuring his famous "Simple" character, 6 books for young people on Africa, jazz, African-American history and the West Indies, 4 biographies, 1 autobiography, 1 anthology and 3 history books on African-American history.
His life had its ups and downs politically, but he never named names to the witchhunting, House Un-American Activities Committee, and he always actively promoted African-American culture and history.
A commemorative stamp has been issued in honor of the centenary of his birth and of his work. For the announcement, see: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/020104/180/vva8.html
Langston Hughes wrote many outstanding poems, which should be familiar to every American high school graduate. There is one that remains my favorite, "Harlem." It was the basis of a play by Lorraine Hansberry, "A Raisin in the Sun," and the play was the basis for a movie with the same name.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
HARLEM by Langston Hughes
What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore--and then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over--like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sags like a heavy load.
Or does it explode?
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Happy 100th Birthday, Langston Hughes!
For more information:
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=stor...
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IMC Network
from
"Advertisement for the Waldorf-Astoria"
from THE COLLECTED POEMS OF
LANGSTON HUGHES
Fine living . . . a la carte?
Come to the Waldorf-Astoria!
LISTEN HUNGRY ONES!
Look! See what Vanity Fair says about the
new Waldorf-Astoria:
"All the luxuries of private home. . . ."
Now, won't that be charming when the last flop-house
has turned you down this winter?
Furthermore:
"It is far beyond anything hitherto attempted in the hotel
world. . . ." It cost twenty-eight million dollars. The fa-
mous Oscar Tschirky is in charge of banqueting.
Alexandre Gastaud is chef. It will be a distinguished
background for society.
So when you've no place else to go, homeless and hungry
ones, choose the Waldorf as a background for your rags--
(Or do you still consider the subway after midnight good
enough?)
ROOMERS
Take a room at the new Waldorf, you down-and-outers--
sleepers in charity's flop-houses where God pulls a
long face, and you have to pray to get a bed.
They serve swell board at the Waldorf-Astoria. Look at the menu, will
you:
GUMBO CREOLE
CRABMEAT IN CASSOLETTE
BOILED BRISKET OF BEEF
SMALL ONIONS IN CREAM
WATERCRESS SALAD
PEACH MELBA
Have luncheon there this afternoon, all you jobless.
Why not?
Dine with some of the men and women who got rich off of
your labor, who clip coupons with clean white fingers
because your hands dug coal, drilled stone, sewed gar-
ments, poured steel to let other people draw dividends
and live easy.
(Or haven't you had enough yet of the soup-lines and the bit-
ter bread of charity?)
Walk through Peacock Alley tonight before dinner, and get
warm, anyway. You've got nothing else to do.
http://www.randomhouse.com/knopf/authors/hughes/poem.html