Langston Hughes' message for the black masses

Abstract

Langston Hughes, perhaps the leading Black literary figure of this century, had barely entered the mainstream of American literature at his death in 1967. Hughes claimed himself a social poet who wrote about the problems of Black people. He did so for his entire life, but for twenty‐two years he used the medium of the newspaper and a short story format to present his message to an audience. This essay explores the Simple columns, which were published in the Chicago Defender, for the messages, insights, and methods of resolving the problem of being Black in a White America.

Key concepts:

• Blacks
• culture
• racial consciousness
• news columns