... New York. His literary works helped shape American literature and politics. Hughes, like others active in the Harlem Renaissance, had a strong sense of racial pride. Through his poetry, novels, plays, essays, and children's books, he promoted equality, condemned racism and injustice, and celebrated African American culture, humor, and spirituality. James Langston Hughes was born February 1, 1902 in Joplin, Missouri into an abolitionist ... family. He was the grandson of James Mercer Langston, the first African American to be elected to public office in 1855 ... accurate, and pressures to...

• Word Count: 2112
• Approx Pages: 8
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School