During the early 1900s there were significant shifts in American literature. One example involved the white writers and their change of mentality towards their American dream. The other change happened with black writers, notably Langston Hughes. He lived in a time of enormous transformation for the black community. Langston Hughes’ writing represents the change in the 1900s and the dream of equality for African Americans.

After the turn of the century many important historical changes were happening. These included: WWI which began in 1914, women getting the right to vote in 1920, the Roaring Twenties, the Great Depression, and WWII on the horizon. The new ideas of the era were incorporated in Langston Hughes’ poetry and this brought him to the attention of many people. He wrote about hope for the black people and how life will soon be different. “Tomorrow, I’ll be at the table When company comes. Nobody’ll dare Say to me, ‘Eat in the kitchen,’ Then” (I Too, Sing America). Langston Hughes’ poetry is new and different than writers before him. He speaks of a change needed in society and how blacks deserve equal rights. In “The Negro Speaks of Rivers,” he reminds people that African Americans have gone through more pain than any other race and that they have seen and felt the pain throughout the centuries. He sees and wants change for African Americans, and he writes this in his poetry.

The Harlem Renaissance was an important time period for African Americans and especially Langston Hughes. In his poem “The Weary Blues” he uses many themes from this literary movement. This poem shows influence from Jazz and Blues music, which was very popular during the Harlem Renaissance. “Swaying to and fro on his rickety stool He played that sad raggy tune like a musical fool. Sweet Blues! Coming from a black man’s soul.” This poem shows the themes of folk material and blues traditions, which are essential traits of the Harlem Renaissance. “The Weary Blues” represents the musical aspect by having a blues singer as the character. However, it shows the sorrow for the American dream that does not yet exist for African Americans.

Langston Hughes’ poems are good examples of the hope and pain of the African Americans of this era. In his poem, “Still Here,” he tells his reader that black people will not give up on hope. “Looks like between ‘em they done Tried to make me Stop laughin’, stop lovin’, stop livin’- But I don’t care! I’m still here!” For centuries, African Americans have been treated terribly and given no respect. In the new era of the 1900s, there seems to be a change coming. Women had to fight long and hard for their right to vote, Langston Hughes knows that it will be a similar fight for African Americans to gain equal rights. Langston Hughes represents a change in society because his poems speak of the battle that African Americans will have to go through, while still giving hope. In “Mother to Son,” he speaks of the journey that African Americans took to reach freedom and how they must not give up, even if the road is difficult. This new era for African Americans has begun, and Langston Hughes knows it.

American literature underwent significant changes around the turn of the century. The shift in African American literature is represented by Langston Hughes’ poetry. His poems use the popular themes from the Harlem Renaissance, which was an important artistic movement of the times. Hughes’ poems show the pain of the African American’s past, but also the new hope that they began having. Many of his poems are about the strength and resistance of the African Americans. He poems say that they will never give up and will continue fighting for equality. The American dream was about creativity and individualism, but the African American dream of equality was very different. Langston Hughes fought for his dream through his words and inspired many. His poems are an appropriate representation of the new era.