This is a reprint of an article first published on February 1, 2021.

In Canada and the United States, February marks Black History Month where Black Canadians and African Americans who have made significant contributions to the world in the fields of the arts and sciences are recognized.

Langston Hughes is certainly one of the leading African American figures deserving recognition. Born on February 1, 1902, he is well known today as a poet, novelist, dramatist, columnist, essayist, and an early innovator in the new literary form called jazz poetry. Known for his insightful, colorful portrayals of Black life in America from the 1920’s through the Sixties, he was also the first Black writer in America to earn his living from writing.

Living in Harlem in the 1920’s, he was one of the leaders of the Harlem Renaissance and mingled with a crowd of writers, actors and playwrights including Zora Hurston and critic Carl Van Vechten, who helped get Hughes’ first book of poetry, The Weary Blues published in 1926. The book had popular appeal and established both his poetic style and his commitment to Black themes. He went on to write 17 more books of poetry, over 10 plays (including Mule Bone with Zora Hurston), 8 children’s books, 12 novels and short story collections, and 8 non-fiction books including 2 autobiographies. Here at Faded Page, we have his autobiographical work, The Big Sea, as well as his debut novel, Not Without Laughter.

If you like what we do here on Faded Page and want to help us add even more public domain books to the site, come join us and proofread a few pages. For more information about how to volunteer, check out our companion site, Distributed Proofreaders Canada.