Langston Hughes

Poet and writer Langston Hughes emerged as a central figure in the Harlem Renaissance after his first poem was published in 1921. His debut poetry collection was released five years later, in 1926. As one of the first Black Americans to make a living as a writer, Hughes went on to create numerous works of poetry, prose, and plays that focus on the 20th-century African American experience, leaving a lasting impact. Some of his most iconic poems include “Dreams,” “I, Too,” and “Harlem.” He also wrote a popular column for the Chicago Defender. Hughes passed away in May 1967 at the age of 65 from prostate cancer.