Langston Hughes Quotes And Poems: Black History Month Begins With Poet's Birthday

Every year since 1976, February has been nationally designated as a month to celebrate, honor and educate about black history in the United States. And every year, the month begins with Langston Hughes’ birthday.

Hughes was a central figure in the Harlem Renaissance, a period beginning in the 1920s in New York City known for the large numbers of black writers who brought their talents to light. Hughes, born in Joplin, Missouri in 1902, went on to write poems, novels, plays, essays and children’s books celebrating African American culture, promoting equal rights and condemning racism. The quotes below are from some of his most famous writings, honoring what would have been his 115^th birthday Wednesday.

“Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly.”

“I tire so of hearing people say, ‘Let things take their course. Tomorrow is another day.’ I do not need my freedom when I’m dead. I cannot live on tomorrow’s bread.”

“The past has been a mint of blood and sorrow. That must not be true of tomorrow.”

“Perhaps the mission of an artist is to interpret beauty to people – the beauty within themselves.”

“So since I’m still here livin’, I guess I will live on.I could’ve died for love--But for livin’ I was born.”

“I’m so tired of waiting, aren’t you, for the world to become good and beautiful and kind?”

“Like a welcome summer rain, humor may suddenly cleanse and cool the earth, the air and you.”

“I’ve been scarred and battered. My hopes the wind done scattered. Snow has friz me, sun has baked me, 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!”

“I stuck my head out the window this morning and spring kissed me bang in the face.”

“A world I dream where black or white, whatever race you be, will share the bounties of the earth and every man is free.”

“I have discovered in life that there are ways of getting almost anywhere you want to go, if you really want to go.”