Langston Hughes is one of the foremost writers of the twentieth century. Hughes dedicated his life to writing about the everyday experiences and culture of African Americans.

He is best known as a poet of the Harlem Renaissance and is often called "the poet laureate of Harlem." However, Hughes was a writer of many talents; in addition to publishing many volumes of poetry, he also published essays, plays, short stories, novels, and children's books. He continued to write until his death in the late sixties.

Listen to Hyde Park High School students recite some of his poems and research his life and work at this Langston Hughes Web site.