In memoriam: Langston Hughes; Part two

James Emmanuel is a poet and critic. He's also an assistant professor in the English department at the City College of New York. Mr. Emanuel gave us this commentary in tribute to his fellow poets work over half a century ago. I think you know at the age of 30 read it first before that on grammar school audience and like in L.A. I sent then the meaning of it thing which life had been to build in it in any way that he lived for other people. But still a large corner of it being all waiting for his own negro people. It profoundly responsible for that. Having And that unofficial titled negro poet Laurie and dean of Negro writers in America summarizing a lifelong purpose as a writer Langston Hughes often said I tried to explain and eliminate the negro condition in America at an autograph party in 1964 and published his book

New Negro poet U.S.A. he remarked humorously that here the way of thinking had not changed much since he was 15 years old. He had in mind the attitude that he had that recorded in 1920 and in article the Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain which denounced his faith that negro writer and an artist with pride by revealing what he called their own work. Planking in Pride and in the end the back end of the world by doing precisely that Art Alade closing the many sided takes the physical spiritual and psychological of the needle. It could not have written about it already. So honestly and comprehensively if he had not had that wide ranging for humanity in its

very first dog and entitled Mary we're not what inspired by reading a brief newspaper notice that an immigrant Polish woman one of the early where the poms on the other hand written when he was 17 and entitled when hired by what he felt to be quiet and a brown girl who had emigrated from the south. Thank thank you all the public and all that but out there at the forecasts of the place that await and critique not yet familiar with any of

several hundreds of law meritorious work on the negro Folklife pioneered with poetic of the bebop and novel nearly every day on every and any nonrational with an artist or a yet undiscovered country. And several characters get sample and international sounding all the chords of comedy from the old chuckle up Aurora and from our herbal play the gripping fact I

hear more than 20 Trammell operating miracle gospel song. Live Earth early for a Negro National and American drama that day to day reality of all people not otherwise portrayed with balance. Actor the playwright. In eight volumes of biographical and historical nonfiction he has recorded a better life for young people. A large negro eading of Latin American work and collaborative pictorial fame and editorial work get published by African right. Beyond it and the library go. There remain the

image of Langston Hughes. Combat in it. We learn it and writing it autobiography The Big Easy. And I wonder I wonder. We understand that that line and one of his that no on my soul has grown like the red. Traveling throughout the world. He was always a man of the people equally at home eating camel in an 18 bed or anything at all buried in a Park Avenue. And. Because he allowed it to be said by people in need. He once said that he had lived much of his life and they had met and. Metaphorically drank that hard and the elevation to his soul derives from the fact. Being figuratively in the

basement of the world. What a life and what common people have trouble to make their way. Langston Hughes remained close to him. At the same time writing in Arabic like the one he occupied for 20 here overlooking Harlem backyard he wrote to the longing for the fact that enabled him humanizing aided by that light on all that he saw. Everywhere he was a kindred spirit to the young to the poor and to the young but. On the last page of his last autobiography Lankton here on the scene walking through the snow falling lightly on our New Year's Day hear that thing himself.

Where would I be when the next new year came. With the holiday and tried in London. And with the world revealed in the air. Not my world. He concluded. My world well not here. A world of well not. Quite with love. And with. The will of by our remarkable ability and. It remains and a little less. Having that we have and all that he long. Lacked was James Emmanual poet critic and assistant professor of English

at the City College of New York. Several of Langston Hughes his pieces were used in the show. My hand is on the gate which opened in September 1966. Here are two of them. The Negro Speaks of rivers and mother to son as they were read on stage by Ellen Holly. I've no rivers I know in rivers ancient as the old and older than the flow of human blood in human day. My soul has grown deep like the river. I bathed in the Euphrates when Doms were young. I built my hut near the Congo and it lulled me to sleep. I looked upon the noddle and raised the pyramids above it. I heard the singing of the Mississippi when a blink and went down to New Orleans and Ive seen its muddy bosom turn all golden in the sunset. I have known Rivers ancient dusky rivers

my soul has grown deep like the rivers where the sun are tear you. Lie for me ain't been no crystal stair it's had tax in it and splinters and boards torn up in places with no carpet on the floor bare but all the time I've been a crime anon and reach inland and turn and corner and sometimes going in the dark where they ain't been no light so boy don't you turn back. Don't you said down on the steps because you finds it's kind of hard. Don't you fall now. I'll still go and honey are still climbing and life for me ain't been no crystal stair. It was Ellen Holly as she rode the Negro Speaks of rivers and mother

Tucson by Langston Hughes. You know a hand on the gate just B sample the famous simple was put on Broadway and set to music in the show simply heavenly by Hughes and David Martin. Here's the way the show ended. You know now if it were me going into the Army today not it was integrated. I'd come back a general Oh of course your kid I'd rise right to the top and be a general and be in charge of white troops call it generals never command right from the next was going to be integrated. In fact God like Commander Richard from Mississippi just how do you hide. No sir. Then why would you want to command a regiment from Mississippi. Well in the last one to have white officers in charge a negro so why should not be in charge and why. General So I'd really make him told a lie I know some Dixiecrat boys had rather died in their Facebook colored bag but they'd live baseball mean man you gotta agree imagination I can see myself

now. In World War 3. Leading a wide Mississippi truth in action. Aha Pardew just like all those other generals do in stand when they are back on a hill somewhere and I look to my spy glasses and not see charge on millions charge on and then I watch those little Dixiecrat boys school. Lack true friends of the whole South. More down in in in then when my young Why do tennis Vicksburg back to headquarters to deliver their reports in person to me. They see Captain gentle Sir we have captured two more enemy positions and I would see a man's return Neo-Con nice until Nikki Paul Ciancia known then the next big when I called up to him I'd pin medals on their chest for bravery. Then I have my picture took in front of all. And why the truth. The first black American to look to men of all white soldiers Mississippi man and

didn't even win the war BS over how to lie and all. He's up for the last time that an odd thing means any name. Gentleman of the Old South. Relax lay down your 5 noms and then me you already because I am wanted you to bond Dan Brady and Dixie and I'm willing to let bygones be bygones and forget how you feel to be my orders in the old days. And right faced it when I told you live because she thought I was call it. Well I years go but I'll forget there because you are me and I am you and read all the world. And not about Biden's good. Let's be Americans will work. CAPTAIN. Generals in need as a lieutenant but tender. Oh Mother Kagan nails but I mean this all drink from the same brew you drink to me and I'll

drink to you. Sons of the silent. Drink very good when we all goes back a piece together. Let there be peace between you Mississippi and me go up and. Write Oh no. Oh. Oh. But I. Was. I. Was. I. Was.

That boy. I. I. I. I. I. I. I I I. I. I. I. I. I. I.

That was the finale to the 1957 Broadway show simply heavenly by Langston Hughes and David Martin Novum Stewart played simple. Just be simple. Here he is again from the record album the best of simple reading simple as platform. And I am standing on my own which means my own two feet which covers two feet of space which I do not own but I'm standing on it. The president can stand on the whole United States because he is president. Ralph Bunche can stand on the United Nations and Adam Powell on the pulpit of Abyssinian Baptist Church. But I can only stand what my two feet will cover when I am where I am at that time I am. So that is what I stand as I run for office and ask for your vote. Now my platform is equal rights for all. I also stand for Africa for the

Africans. No more private mentions in Mississippi. I am tired of reading about Negroes getting killed down there. I am tired. So I stand for no more killings in Mississippi whilst I am running for office in Harlem. Of course I would be running for safety if I were in Mississippi. Now as to my party it is neither Democratic nor Republican. It is my own party so I do not have to could nobody in on my graft. I will not run on no dishonest ticket for dishonest purposes. I will just come right out and say give me all that is coming to me. I believe in Negros being in all graft too just like all those other politician is. Then when I get elected I will raise sand in office before I get voted out for not getting results I wanted before getting in. But anyhow by then

everybody will know that I have been in Washington particularly the white folks years. Were I ever a senator. I would leave my mark on politics but if I would be written up in books put down in history and raised up on monuments my name would be carved in the Hall of Fame with Booker T Washington George Washington in Diana Washington. I would be one politician who people will remember me Jesse be simple grandfathers would tell their children's children about how they voted for me. Jesse B how I won and lost and how my head were bloody but unbowed when I go down to my grave in debt and defeat I would leave a large sum of money behind me. Like all good politician to do and in my will I would leave $5000 to some fine funeral preaching minister like Reverend Monroe. I would tell him

Rev preach me a great funeral and let my light so shine in your sermon that no man will ever forget who our Meet Jesse be simple Come to think of it. Since I ain't dead yet I might as we'll cast flowers on my grave today and compose my own sermon right now. So if any ministers are sitting out there listening they can preach it for me after I'm gone. Ray if this is what I want you to say. Of course not in the first pot. Read an obituary which I would have read up myself before I died. The late deceased Jesse B sample born in Virginia married twice in life for better or worse the first time for worse in Baltimore the last time for good in Harlem. Yes a B sample beloved Yes you were a good man. Yami Manas Yes they were raise good live good

did good n died good image whereupon from our coffin I would see you lie good keep on in my old minister would preach on. She has a base double deserves to rest in peace. Deserves the pass on over to the other shores where there is light eternal where darkness never comes and where he will receive a crown upon his noble he'd ha that hate that thought such noble thoughts I have that here that never studied evil in this world. That Here the never harbored harm that hear that hear her through that hear of jus a B sample that received his crown and slippers golden slippers on his feet with heel plates of silver to make music. Up and down the golden streets. Oh not just to be walking on the golden streets hailing a celestial care to go world into eternal space down the Milky Way To see if you can find some of his own friends in the far off part of heaven and you'll have to arrange all pairs and it does not

know any of them simple does not know this angel heart nor that Angel Heart. But here here at last is an angle the nose ham rare. Rev I would whisper from my coffin you will have to tell me that angel's name because I do not recollect who it is. I think all my friends must go on to hear it read would preach on it is an angel from your youth good sample. A young angel you grew up with but whom you cannot recognize. Since this angle died before the age of sin but is now wider than snow and as all here in heaven no matter how dark on earth you may be in heaven you are whiter than snow. Jen said be simple whiter than snow. Oh now rare I would see. With me you do not need to go that far but all red would keep on cause that sermon will be good and good to him by now. Though your sins be as scarlet in heaven I say just a bit simple old earth less simple hi all down home simple is quieter than snow quiet. Oh

yeah there's wilder than snow. Then rev I would have to holler. I would not know my old self in the mirror were out to look in God's mirror. All our whites is really wild wings. Why real wide faced wide net quiet shoulders wide hips wide hands wide sort o a precious soul of just a be worth more than words can tell. I would more than turn can fabulous hat with more than speech can spatulate. Then I throw and then the human mind manipulate this so this Jesse below saw this simple soul gone to glory. Gone through his great reward of milk and honey manna and power money ending and the fruit of the tree of you turn to rare I would say from my coffin laying there first day by now. Your words are as dry as popcorn and rice and you have not made to need a beer nor wine and I am paying you man to preach this sermon.

Oh yes the juice sweet juice of the vac. Ray would say Oh yes John symbol is partaken to day of the juice of the vine and the fruit of the tree and the manna of time an ending and the milk and honey of the streets of gold and the wine of the vine of timeless space in that blizzard place her beneath his crown of gold wrapped in the white robes appear a day with white wings flap and his immortal soul winging its way through the model space into that eternal place where time shall be no more. And he shall rest in peace for ever and for ever and ever more simple were born good he were raised good. He lived good did good and light I mean Died good men. Stewardess Jesse be simple in simple platform. And as we come to the end of our memorial program for Langston Hughes we return to the

poet's own voice as he spoke and read at Columbia University in 1964. That's the crime and I try very often to use humor you know my theory is to point out though you know the part about a young man who wanted to vote and that's a off date like with AP. And cookouts clan got after him and so that is what he has. They took me out to some lonesome place. They said Do you believe in the great white race. I said let's just tell you the truth I believe in anything you just turn me loose. The white man's bar I cannot be your fan and they have in me they hit me in the head and knocked me down and then they kicked me on the ground. A Klansman said. Look me in the face

and tell me of a lay in the Great White Way. Well that's the situation in some parts of our country right now this is a poem called merry go round. It's one of the point of mine that has been most often anthologized and Republi and maybe it's been used so much because of the very simple little poem that looks at the race problem through the eyes of a child. When I wrote the poem back in well during the Second World War because it seemed that every war you know brings a migration of Negro workers out of the South to Detroit or Chicago or Oakland or New York to work in the plant. And I imagine that one of these Negro families had a little girl and maybe a little girl six or seven years old that she came let's say to a city like Newark and one day she went

to a carnival. She saw the merry go round going around. He wanted to ride but being a very little girl and colored and remembering the segregation of the South which of course are legal. He didn't know whether or not a college are going to ride on America around North and if such a child could ride she didn't know where. So this is what she said. Where is the Jim Crow section on the merry go round Mr. Because I want to ride down south where I come from quite intelligent can sit side by side. Down south on the train. There's a Jim Crow car on the block. We are put in the back but there ain't no back to a merry go round. Where is the hearth for a kid that's black. Why people write so many crazy artificial barriers. I don't know I found them here when I was born in the world so they're very is that we have to fight against and try to break

down. And I try to do it with poetry sometimes with making speeches but I'm not a very good speech maker. Sometimes with walking in a pick up line I walk picket lines in Harlem back in the early thirties when all along a hundred Twenty fifth Street. You didn't see a negro clerk in any shop right in the middle of Harlem. We had to picket to get jobs in the shops right down under Twenty fifth Street in the very middle of Harlem. One of my favorite little times in the sample Larry which. Maybe he really doesn't have any racial implications but I think it could have. It's called borderline. Sometimes I wonder about living in die. I think the differences lie between teen years and crying. Sometimes I wonder about here and there.

I think the death penalty is no where and that is really always been my own feeling about race creed or color. I think really the difference if you know where you've been listening to in memory of Langston Hughes presented in honor of the poet and author who died on May 22nd 1967. The program was produced by Walter Sheppard and Matthew Bieber filed for a w r b r of the cultural and information station of the Riverside Church in New York City. Technical production by Peter Feldman. We wish to thank all of those who share their memories thoughts performances and words with us. Adele Addison Senator Edward Brooke when Dylan Brooks the nett Carroll James Emmanuel Ellen Holly and Marianne Moore not to John Moore sell Max Polakoff and the sick Meister Nolan Stuart James Wexler and

Langston Hughes.