Poet to Know: Langston Hughes

Langston Hughes

Langston Hughes, beloved American poet, is most remembered for his part in the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920's, a time of incredible African-American cultural and artistic growth centered in Harlem, New York. Hughes wrote poems about everyday people from the neighborhood and celebrated black life and culture. He also loved music, and used the sounds and rhythms of the jazz and blues songs of the time.

My People

Hughes.mp4

My People Read-Aloud

Photographer Charles R. Smith, Jr. has made Langston Hughes' poem My People into a beautiful picture book.

Charles R. Smith Jr.

Watch My People illustrator Charles R. Smith share his thoughts on making the book.

The Dream Keeper

Learn about Langston Hughes's life and his classic book of poetry, The Dream Keeper, from librarian and archivist Alexsandra Mitchell.

What Becomes a Classic? with Leonard Marcus THE DREAM KEEPER - KidLit TVLeonard Marcus is a prize-winning author, curator, NYU professor and authority on children’s literature. Who better than for KidLit TV to... Read more »

The Dream Keeper

Bring me all of your dreams,

You dreamers,

Bring me all of your

Heart melodies

That I may wrap them

In a blue cloud-cloth

Away from the too-rough fingers

Of the world.

Langston Hughes at the Poetry Foundation

Visit the Poetry Foundation website to learn about Langston Hughes and read his poems.

Activities

Think about why dreams are so important to Langston Hughes. What are some of your dreams? Share one of the dream poems with someone close to you. Ask them what dreams are important to them.
Look at the pictures from My People. Charles R. Smith Jr., the illustrator of the book, says that some of "his people" are in the book, including his children and friends. Who are some of your people? Pictures of people like the ones in the book are called portraits. Draw or photograph a portrait of one of your people.

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