Langston Hughes - Black Poet
Born in Joplin, Missouri, in 1902, Hughes moved to Harlem where he resided most of his life until his death in 1967. Unlike many writers of color, Hughes believed literature should reach the masses and appeal to them. While it was mainly Caucasians who purchased his books, Hughes for a long time was the only Black writer who earned his living exclusively from his pen.
In recognition of Black History Month, we chose one of Hughes' more poignant pieces which may be found in Selected Poems by Langston Hughes published by Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. in 1942 | Black History Month: |
Merry-Go-RoundColored Child at Carnival
Where is the Jim Crow section
On this merry-go-round,
Mister, cause I want to ride?
Down South where I come from
White and colored
Can't sit side-by-side.
Down South on the train
There's a Jim Crow car.
On the bus we're put in the back --
But there ain't no back
To a merry-go-round!
Where's the horse
For a kid that's black?
Langston Hughes
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WISE GUY: The Life and Philosophy of Socrates
by M. D. Usher
Long ago in ancient Greece, a boy named Socrates declared that all he knew was nothing. So he spent his whole life asking questions.
He was a curious boy, and cheeky too, but more than anything in all the world he wanted to be happy, he wanted to be good, and he wanted to be wise.
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