Langston Hughes

Devin Owen
MSMU Class of 2026

(2/2025) So much has happened over the trajectory of life in the world, especially in recent years. I feel as though we are often so swept up in the happenings of our own lives, the present, and even the future, that we often disregard the past. How can we do that though, when the past is what shaped us into who we are now; it has shaped society and the world as we know it. There is a saying between one of my friends and I in regard to change, we frequently say that we are "waiting for a catalyst" in order to make a change in our lives or to make a hard decision. We need a big moment in order to feel like we are making the right choices. Sometimes though, the small moments make all the difference too. Change is simply just part of the life we live; it’s inevitable. However, most of the changes we’ve seen throughout history haven’t occurred without a bit of a fight.

Introducing the birthday boy: Langston Hughes! Born on February 1st, 1902, in Joplin Missouri, Hughes ended up becoming one of the most well-known poets in the Nation and one of the most recognized leaders of the Harlem Renaissance—the most influential period in African American literary history, lasting from the 1910’s until the mid 1930’s. Hughes was an innovator of the jazz poetry art form, an art form that ended being insanely popular. In addition to his role as a poet and leader of the Harlem Renaissance, Langston Hughes was also a playwright, novelist, and an activist; a multi-tasking king if you will. He moved to New York City and flourished in the literary world. Not only did he flourish here, but he also shaped the literary world as we know it, addressing his poetry to people—specifically the African American people—and sharing the importance of making a change and having a dream. Hughes died aged only 66 years old on May 22nd, 1967. Even after his passing though, his name lived on for generations to come.

Dear Mr. Langston Hughes,

I would like to wish you a very happy birthday! The date is February 1st and you are aged approximately 123 years old today. Ironically, you share a birthday with someone else who has shaped my life in crucial ways. My best friend’s mom, my bonus mom, was also born on February 1st but she isn’t nearly as old as you are today (no offense). I have found that different people shape your life in different but equally important ways. Similar to my bonus mom, you have better shaped my understanding of the world. Poetry is a beautiful and complex form of art. Words hold power and we often wield it without thought, at least in todays society we do. Looking back though, we use words to make the most critical decisions. For example, in order to declare war, our President addresses the Nation and states the intentions: "We declare war on..." Words are powerful in a way we cannot or do not fully comprehend. Mr. Hughes, YOUR words are powerful. They have carried on your legacy for years following your passing 58 years ago.

In my American Literature Survey course from last year here at Mount St. Mary’s University, we read and analyzed your poems as a class. We listened intently and read closely and not only did we hear your words, but we understood them. I believe the first poem we looked at was "The Weary Blues", which you wrote in 1925. It’s interesting to think about the differences between the world in which you lived and the world that we are living currently. I myself am an avid poetry lover, and I have even written a few poems myself. It’s a form of expression that I never really understood prior to college. I used to write songs when I was younger, albeit they aren’t the best, but I used this as a way to express how I felt and the dreams I had. Looking back, I hear your words, "a dream deferred is a dream denied", I apply this to my life anytime I consider pushing my dreams back. If I push them back now then I am denying them and making them to be less important. We should all always follow our dreams and make them important.

As I write this letter to you, I am sitting on the couch in my living room apartment, drinking a cup of coffee, listening to music and grinning like an idiot. Specifically, I am writing this letter while listening to music by Hozier, another idol of mine, who reminds me a bit of you. When I listen to his music I feel good. I find myself getting in the groove of writing, pushing past my writers’ block, and pouring my heart out on paper. For the past few months, I have been completely burnt out. I haven’t been able to find the love for writing in which I have had my whole life. Between school, work, and mentoring I haven’t had the desire to write for myself. I’ve been writing for work, for a paycheck. But why did I start writing for the paper in the first place? Because I loved writing. It has been a passion of mine; a way to express myself through the power of words! You once said, "Life is for the living. Death is for the dead. Let life be like music. And death a note unsaid." Sometimes we need to hear it put pretty simply: you’re alive so live your life. You can be dead when you’re dead, there’s no time for it now. Sometimes I need to listen to you more often, I need to live my life and feel the way music makes me feel, and I very obviously need to embrace my love of writing and words and everything else life has to offer.

Langston Hughes. The man that you are. Thank you. Thank you for being so unbelievably talented. Thank you for being an inspiration to not only the African American community and literary community, but also to the young writers, poets, playwrights, and activists around the world. You’re name and legacy is one that will be remembered for eons. You made a difference in the world, and we’re forever grateful for it.