James Mercer Langston Hughes was one of the most original and literal of black writers. He was born on February 1, 1902 in Joplin, Missouri to James and Carrie Mercer Hughes. Shortly after Hughes' birth, his parents divorced. His mother was back and forth with jobs, which left him with her parents. His grandmother, Mary Leary Langston Hughes was the first black woman to attend Oberlin College (Exploring Poetry). Hughes grandmother died in 1910, then Hughes had to live with family and friends. Influenced by the poetry of Paul Dunbar and Carl Sandburg, he began to write creatively while he was a boy (Brief 1).

Hughes rejoined his mother and stepfather in Lincoln, Illinois. There he attended Grammar School. The family then moved to Cleveland, Ohio during the following year. He attended Central High School (Exploring Poetry). Hughes wrote poetry for his school magazine, The Belfry Owl (Exploring Poetry). He also became...