The Works of Langston Hughes
"Listen, America--
I live here, too.
I want freedom
Just as you."—Langston Hughes, "Let America Be America Again" (1936)
Since 1995, Rhode Islanders have come together each February to read and celebrate the life of one of America's finest poets and writers, Langston Hughes (1902-1967). Made possible through a grant from the Rhode Island Council for the Humanities, an independent state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, the annual Langston Hughes Poetry Reading is a shining example of what public humanities can pass on to communities far and wide. This Teacher's Guide includes performances recorded in Providence, access to NEH supported projects dedicated to the work of Langston Hughes, and classroom ready materials for teaching his poetry.