... A. Knopf in 1926. He finished his college education at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania three years later. In 1930 his first novel, Not Without Laughter, won the Harmon gold medal for literature. Hughes wrote in many genres, but he is best known for his poetry in which he disregarded classical forms in favor of musical rhythms. In the 1920s, when he lived ... 1920s that celebrated black life and culture. Hughes's creative genius was influenced by his life in New York City's Harlem, a primarily African American neighborhood. His literary works helped shape American literature and polit...

• Word Count: 1071
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... wisdom. Langston knew that a strength of black was the ability to laugh, to use laughter as a weapon against injustice and cruelty. The many fans of Simple saw him as an "Everyman" who carried a universal message. Not everyone liked Simple though. Some who objected to Simple's humor believed "being black in America was no laughing matter (Haskins 101)." Langston chose to stop ... humor is less and less understandable to so many people (Haskins 105)." Despite chastisement for the character of Simple, some critics believe that Simple is Langston's greatest contribution to American literat...

• Word Count: 1438
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School