Langston Hughes wrote in several literary genres. However even though he
wrote plays, novels, and stories he is best known for his poems. When it comes
to poetry Hughes is someone who everyone knows for his great poems. Some his
poems have freedom and race as the central theme.
Hughes was one of the earliest innovators of the then new literary art
form jazz poetry. He was also known for his work during the Harlem Renaissance.
Hoping to escape racism Hughes father moved to Cuba and later on Mexico. During the 1800’s and 1900’s is known that
African American suffered discrimination. This might had influenced Hughes when
he wrote some of his poems. We all can agree that he felt proud of being
African American. One of his popular poems that present racism and pride is “You
and your whole race”. Probably Hughes used this poem to criticized society for
being ignorant and being racist towards other humans. Langston Hughes definitely
wanted freedom for his people that is the message you can find in his poems.
There is a connection between racism and freedom. When someone is discriminated
they don’t feel free. That’s why freedom was an important thing that motivated
Hughes to write poems. One of the poems where Hughes talks about freedom is “Democracy”.
In this poem Hughes gives us the message that we need freedom because freedom
is something necessary for humans. He concludes saying “I want freedom just as
you.” This proves he wasn’t someone selfish who only thought in himself he
wanted good things for everyone.
Langston Hughes is definitely someone who left us a legacy of poetry.
Using his poems as social critics he showed he was against racism. He also used
them to tell his readers that freedom is necessary in their lives. His poems
will motivate us to give something positive to our society and express our
ideas and thoughts.