Langston Hughes Reads His Poetry

James Mercer Langston Hughes (February 1, 1901 - May 22, 1967) was an American poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, and opinion columnist from Joplin, Missouri. An early innovator of jazz poetry, Hughes is best known as a leader of the Harlem Renaissance. In the following recording, Langston Hughes reading 35 of his best-known poems, including Afro American Fragment, The Negro Speaks of Rivers, Negro, American Heartbreak, Dream Variations, Feet of Jesus, Prayer, Fire, Judgement Day,...