Langston Hughes is known for his insightful portrayals of black life in America from the twenties through the sixties, when the civil rights movement gained traction from 1942 to 1962.

Best remembered for his in-depth weekly opinion column in the leading black newspaper, The Chicago Defender, Hughes (1901-1967) was an American poet, novelist, and playwright.

He was also linked to the Harlem Renaissance, an intellectual and cultural movement focused on African-American politics, art, music, literature, and theatre.

Harlem Renaissance was also called the "New Negro Movement," named after The New Negro, a 1925 anthology edited by Alain Locke. 

My study room displays his short poem “Dreams,” which I have carefully handwritten on a canvas and placed on my table to emphasize its importance to me. 

Read on - 

Hold fast to dreams

For if dreams die

Life is a broken-winged bird

That cannot fly.

Hold fast to dreams

For when dreams go

Life is a barren field

Frozen with snow.