2016-02-01 Mon

Known for his peculiar traditional English poetry, refreshingly mixed with jazz and blues, Langsten Hughes was born on today’s date, 1st February in 1902. To celebrate this legendary writer/ entertainer’s birthday, the United States issued the 25th stamp in the Black Heritage series featuring his smiling picture, in 2014.

Hughes played a very vital role in Harlem Renaissance, which was named that way because it originated in the black neighborhood of Harlem in upper Manhattan. In 1926 his revolutionary essay “The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain,” which stressed upon the importance of both creative freedom and racial pride, was a true inspiration for Harlem Renaissance writers.