In early elementary school, somewhere between 3rd-5th grade, I wrote a report on Langston Hughes. I even drew a portrait of him for the title page. Looking back, I have no idea what it was about Hughes that wooed me as a child. Heck, I can’t quite put into words why I’m drawn to his work, now!
I’m usually hesitant to start listing my “favorite” of anything; but if I had a favorite poet, Langston Hughes would be it. Perhaps one thing I admire about him is his courage to explore other areas of literature. But more than anything, I simply love his poems.
Langston Hughes was born on February 1, 1902. In the midst of the big blizzard, I didn’t get a chance to “properly” address Black History Month, so I wanted to take a moment to do so by leaving you with one of my favorite Langston Hughes poems, “I, Too, Sing America.”:
I, too, sing America. I am the darker brother. They send me to eat in the kitchen When company comes, But I laugh, And eat well, And grow strong. Tomorrow, I'll be at the table When company comes. Nobody'll dare Say to me, "Eat in the kitchen," Then. Besides, They'll see how beautiful I am And be ashamed-- I, too, am America. http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/15615