James Presley notes "one summer in Chicago when he was a teen-ager Langston Hughes felt the American Dream explode in his face; a gang of white youths beat him up so badly that he went home with blacked eyes and a swollen jaw. ... Hughes referred to Carl Sandburg as "my guiding star." ...

• Word Count: 1559
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

Destined to fill the void of support for a race of people, who having been kicked in the teeth for so many years, were finally willing to rid their lives of oppression and to stand up and be counted, not just in the eyes of the law, but in the hearts of the people. ...

• Word Count: 3793
• Approx Pages: 15
• Grade Level: High School