The Black Identity In The Poetry Of Langston Hughes

Langston Hughes is one of the most influential figures in twentieth-century Afro-American literature. His talents are displayed in almost all literary genres, like poetry, drama, and novel, but his major contribution to the black literature is the novel fusions of jazz and blues with traditional verse. The theme of many theses is mostly focused on the analysis of his music elements, or the lowbrow life reflected in his poetry. However, with the impact of other humanities (especially the increasingly hot subject of race and ethnicity), and the literary theory of post-colonialism, more and more researchers become interested in the black identity in his poetry. And in my view, throughout his almost forty years' writing career, Langston Hughes had always been striving to construct a justified identity for the Afro-Americans in the history of American literature.The thesis is developed through four perspectives: race, history, politics, and culture. Langston Hughes did not achieve too much in the racial perspectives, but he did establish the black identity in the historical perspective, and further elevated their status in the political perspective, and finally, as a cosmopolitan, Hughes extolled a harmonious mingling of diverse colors in the cultural perspective based on a common American dream, a universal wish cherished by all mankind. Therefore, the black identity in his works is more like an upward fluid process, during which their civil rights has been strenuously obtained, their status been gradually uplifted. Their persistent struggle soaked with blood and life in the past over three hundred years is indeed worthwhile and admirable.With a sincere and passionate heart, Langston Hughes devoted all his life and energy to the writing and thinking of his people's life. Undisputably, he is a great representative of his people and his race.