Biography. Langston Hughes was first recognized as an important literary figure during the 1920s, a period known as the Harlem Renaissance because of the number of. One of the most famous poems penned by Harlem Renaissance poet Langston Hughes. Written in 1951, this poem was the inspiration for Lorraine Hansberry’s classic play. Born: James Mercer Langston Hughes (1902-02-01) February 1, 1902 Joplin, Missouri, United States: Died: May 22, 1967 (1967-05-22) (aged 65) New York City, New York. Shmoop guide to Langston Hughes Harlem Renaissance. Smart, fresh history of Langston Hughes Harlem Renaissance by PhDs and Masters from Stanford, Harvard, Berkeley Langston Hughes biography and poetry. A jazz website. The Harlem Renaissance, a cultural, social, and artistic explosion that took place in Harlem, New York, spanned the 1920s. During the time, it was known as the New. Langston Hughes' Role in the Harlem Renaissance? Langston Hughes (1902-1967) was born in Joplin, Missouri and educated at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania. Brief Bio Born in Joplin, Missouri, James Langston Hughes was born into an abolitionist family. He was the grandson of James Mercer Langston, the. Langston Hughes: Poems study guide contains a biography of Langston Hughes, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and. Selected Bibliography. Poetry. Collected Poems of Langston Hughes (Knopf, 1994) The Panther and the Lash: Poems of Our Times (Knopf, 1967) Ask Your Mama: 12 Moods for.