A newborn baby cries because he wants attention from his parents who are fighting in the other room. The parents discontinue the bickering and tend to their sweet little baby boy. When he is present, the arguing stops for the combating parents, and this seems to be the only time and place that they can get along. The baby looks at them and smiles, and it brings tears upon both of their faces. They look at each other and forget what was said in the past, and share a long, wondrous kiss. Although Langston Hughes" parents separated soon after his birth, his grandmother raised him very well. Because she did so, he grew up to be a very inspiring poet for African-Americans and many other races around the world. .
James Mercer Langston Hughes was born in 1902 in Joplin, Missouri. His parents, James Nathaniel and Carrie Mercer Langston Hughes separated shortly after their son's birth. (Students 62) Because of their separation, Hughes" Grandmother, Mary Leary Langston, raised him until her death. She was the first black woman to attend Oberlin College and it was her that was responsible for the inspiration of Hughes" hunger for books and his value on education. When she died in 1910, Hughes lived with his family, friends and various relatives in Kansas. (Students 62).
Five years after his grandmother's death, Hughes joined his mother and new step father in Lincoln, Illinois where he attended grammar school. After grammar school, the family moved to Cleveland, Ohio. (Students 62) In Cleveland, Hughes attended Central High School where he excelled in both academics and sports. (Students 62) Hughes was designated class poet, and there he published his first short stories. (Gale.com 1) For his high school literary magazine, the Belfry Owl, he wrote poetry and short fiction stories. (Gale.com 2) .
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Hughes attended the nation's first African- American college, Lincoln University in Pennsylvania. (Gale.com 2) He graduated from Lincoln in 1920.
