Langston Hughes was a courageous African American poet and writer in the 1920s. He faced racism but still published his first poem and handed poems to famous poets. He traveled the world to read his poems, wrote extensively during his career, and received honors like the Springarn Medal. Hughes worked hard to fulfill his dream of being a popular black writer and advocate for equality despite the racism of his time.

2. Langston Hughes Courage Timeline Langston’s first poem after high school, The Negro Speaks of Rivers , is published by The Crisis. (A magazine) It was courageous because Langston knew he might be despised because of his race, but still wrote about equality anyways. 1921 Working as a busboy at the Wardman Park Hotel, he found the famous poet, Vachel Lindsay. Langston handed Mr. Lindsay his poems, and Mr. Lindsay wrote about how great Langston’s poems were in the newspaper. This was courageous of Langston because Mr. Lindsay might have not liked them, but Langston handed them in anyway. (No date) 1952 Started traveling as a writer around the world, places including Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Caribbean. Many people read and enjoyed his poems. This was courageous because he could have been killed while traveling, but he still traveled to read his poems everywhere to the people. 1921 In August of 1921, James Hughes agreed to send Langston to Columbia College. But when he got there, he was struck by racism on campus. This was courageous of Langston because after being ignored or kept out of group activities, Langston did not give up. 1924 Langston found him self in New York, in the time of the Harlem Renaissance. His writings in the Crisis made him very well-known, and many opportunities awaited him. This was courageous of Langston because he was finally where he wanted to be from the start. He had always dreamed of being in New York in the Harlem Renaissance and there he was. All the hard work had paid off.

3. 1952 By the time he turned fifty, Langston had written more than two dozen books, including poems, stories, novels, plays, children’s books, and history books. This was courageous because Langston fulfilled his dream of being a popular black writer in the time of racism. 1939-1945 Langston was very productive during World War II. He wrote lyrics for war bonds ads, he wrote his autobiography The Big Sea , and wrote articles for many newspapers about the war. This was courageous of Langston because he was supporting the American War Effort although he originally wasn’t from America. 1960 Langston received the Springarn Medal, an award that is the highest honor given by African-Americans to African-American. This is very courageous of Langston because he worked real hard, and really deserved this award. 1961 Sadly, Langston checked into an NYC hospital and stayed for a few weeks. He then died from heart disease and cancer. Jazz was played at his funeral in Harlem. Many people mourned the loss of one of the best writers ever.

6. Truthful-Purple Langston was a very truthful man, even in his writing. He writes about black people as sometimes beautiful, but also says they can be ugly. He did not lie about blacks or about anything, for that matter. Langston was a man who told the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Color Collage

7. Langston’s Special Place This would be Langston’s favorite place to be. This is because there are whites and blacks in the same school classroom, together, learning, and achieving. Langston would spend almost all of his time there being inspired by the kids to write his poetry, and or books.

8. National Equality Award Langston would win this award because his goal in life was to make the world an equal place. He wanted blacks and whites to have the same rights, and be able to do the same things. Langston wrote about equality and about how much he dreamed of it. Langston was a very caring man who cared about the rights of his race.

9. Langston’s Equality Café Menu Where People Of Every Race Can Hang Out And Eat Langston’s Equality Chowder...$5.95 (Served with a side of Black and White Oyster Crackers) FOODS Alphabet Soup…$6.75 (Letters Arranged In Famous Langston Hughes Poems) Harlem Hoagies…$7.25 (Any Meats, Cheeses, And Sauces) Columbia Crackers…$1.99 (Ask For Them As A Side For Any Meal) Truthful Truffles…$3.95 (Tasty Chocolate Desert) DRINKS Courage Coke…$1.25 (Sweet Taste Of Cold Courage) Spiritual Sprite…$1.25 Tired of Courage Coke? Get some spirit in you. Langston’s Lemonade…$1.15 (Mostly For The Kids) Equality Eggnog…$1.25 (For The Holidays) Poetry Pepsi (Feel The Rhyme, At The Right Time) Thanks for Coming!

10. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5TwT69i1lU&feature=related (Lyrics On Next Page) Musical Introduction- What A Wonderful World I chose What A Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong. I chose it because it talks about how wonderful our world could be if everyone cooperated with each other, and loved and cared for each other. Louis Armstrong was trying to show the world the same thing Langston Hughes was trying to. They both lived around the same time and lived through racism. They were both African-American, and both dreamed of equality. Maybe Langston was inspired by Louis Armstrong, but I’m not totally sure of that. They were both wonderful men, and both pushed the world towards being a better place.

11. I see trees of green, red roses too. I see them bloom for me and you, And I think to myself what a wonderful world. I see skies of blue and clouds of white, The bright blessed day, the dark sacred night And I think to myself what a wonderful world. The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky, Are also on the faces of people going by. I see friends shaking hands saying how do you do? They're really saying I love you. I hear babies cry, I watch them grow. They'll learn much more than I'll never know. And I think to myself what a wonderful world. Yes I think to myself what a wonderful world. What A Wonderful World Lyrics