by Langston Hughes

Langston Hughes and the Harlem Renaissance
Explore this site to learn about Hughes and his role in the Harlem Renaissance. How did Hughes and other writers and artists of the Harlem Renaissance change American culture in general? What would the speaker of "I, Too" have to say about these artists? In the Web Links Activity Log, write several paragraphs answering these questions.

Poet Heroes: Langston Hughes
The "My Hero" project is an online interactive site where visitors can read about great figures and nominate their own heroes. Langston Hughes is one hero featured in the poetry section. Read about him on the site. Based on your knowledge and impressions of Hughes, write an additional paragraph you would add to the "Poet Hero" biography.

Bessie Smith
Most scholars would agree that blues music had a great impact on Hughes and that Bessie Smith's themes and lyrics are closely linked to his work. Visit this site to read more about Bessie Smith's life and to hear audio clips of her work. As a class, discuss any connections you find between the works of Smith and Hughes.