Who Was Langston Hughess Audience?

Langston Hughes crafted his stories and poems with a deliberate focus on reaching the African American community. These literary works found their home in newspapers tailored specifically to cater to the interests and concerns of African Americans. This dedication to his target audience allowed Hughes to connect deeply with the African American community, providing them with a voice that resonated with their unique experiences and aspirations. This approach was instrumental in fostering a sense of identity and empowerment among African Americans during the early 20th century. (Note: I added context about Hughes’ intention and impact on the African American community.)

Langston Hughes, in his 1927 work titled “Fine Clothes to the Jew,” wrote about the lives and experiences of various marginalized individuals. These individuals included workers, roustabouts, singers, and job hunters residing in different urban locations such as Lenox Avenue in New York, Seventh Street in Washington, and South State in Chicago. Hughes’ writing delved into the struggles and uncertainties faced by these people, who often found themselves in precarious situations – employed one week and jobless the next. Despite the challenges they encountered, they remained resilient and determined to persevere in the face of adversity. This work by Hughes shed light on the complex and diverse stories of these individuals, offering a glimpse into their daily lives and the hardships they endured.

Langston Hughes wrote several poems that delved into the theme of dreams, but it’s essential to recognize that these poems weren’t primarily positive or idealistic portrayals of dreams. Instead, Hughes used his poetry as a powerful medium to convey the harsh realities and challenges experienced by black Americans during a period marked by entrenched institutionalized racism and pervasive cultural prejudice. His poems served as authentic reflections of the struggles and aspirations of black Americans in the face of these societal injustices. Hughes used his writing to shed light on the complex intersection of dreams and the African American experience, offering a poignant perspective on the era’s racial dynamics. This exploration of dreams within the context of adversity played a crucial role in his literary contributions.