Chapter 14, People Need Poetry Summary

Although Langston had studied to become a teacher, he found that his interest in teaching was gone after he'd graduated college. He was posed with a difficult decision - writing material he had no interest in writing. A four hundred dollar prize for Not Without Laughter gave Hughes some time to think about his future. So he and Zell Ingram, a friend from Cleveland, decided to travel to the South.

In Daytona Beach, they stopped to visit Bethune-Cookman, an all black college that had been founded by Mary McLeod Bethune. Mrs. Bethune asked Langston to read some of his poetry to the students, which he did. After observing the students' responses to Hughes' poetry, Bethune suggested the poet go on the lecture circuit and recite his poetry to people throughout the country.

Zell and Langston continued south...