Evening Exchange; Langston Hughes Centennial Lecture Coverage

100 years after his birth the words and writings of poet Langston Hughes are still helping to shape the African-American experience. Hughes held as one of the foremost writers of the 20th century depicted the frustrations and challenges of African-American life and culture as no weather before him. Through the use of his poetry plays and novels. He described the joys and pain of everyday common black folk using the rhythms of swing and the blues. He was born James links to Hughes in 19 0 2 and Joplin Missouri. Grew up in Lawrence Kansas as a young adult. He lived in the adjoint Park section of Washington D.C.. In the late 1920s Hughes left Washington D.C. and settled in Harlem New York where he called home until his death in 1967. He became known as the poet laureate of Harlem. And was undoubtedly an important part of the era known as the Harlem Renaissance. Corresponded often with Howard University professor Dr. I

like to use as a person who loves black people. You know it shows in all of his work. He's one of the few African-American writers actually American writers to make a living from his writing. What I admire about him is that he's a person who wrote in terms of all the John you know wrote poetry short story play autobiography. He's also a translator You know so when we look at length his life as a man of letters is tremendous. Even his correspondence with with people is something that people are going back and looking at now in terms of Langston this very a person who affected many people's lives. His volume of work including a dream deferred and his most popular character. Just simple has delighted generations of readers been Cousin many little joker down to. Simple. Well you know. This is going to flip over.

He's a numbers right. So. But he also got a. Cop to take him down next day and fight this cat can fight me. The Howard University Department of English recently paid tribute to Langston Hughes with the latest in Centennial lecture. It is only fitting. That before this year runs out. We have to have Howard University the pinnacle of African-American high education should pause ever so briefly. To meditate. On the exemplary life and career of Langston Hughes. The greatest African-American poet. And one of the four greatest poets. Of the United States in the 20th century. How can you forget me when I'm you. But you do how can you forget me. Fellows say how can you love break me

this way. Today the writings of Langston Hughes continue to influence a new generation of African-Americans who Mark what would have been his 100 birthday as we salute the power of his legacy for exchange. I'm Eric Richardson.