When+The+Negro+Was+In+Vogue

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Write an essay discussing the following points:
 * 1) Thoroughly show how the work of literature fits the definition of Modernism.
 * 2) Show how the writer’s life affected his/her work.
 * 3) Show how the work compares in style, character, theme, etc. to other works by the author __and__ to your other assigned works.

The literary period of Modernism can be thought of in many different ways. Most believe that Modernism poets display characters that feel a loss of faith or a feeling of hopelessness (Hann). This is true, but the authors are not limited to these two things (Hann). There were numerous far-reaching historical, social, cultural, and economic changes in the late 1800's and early 1900's (Keane). Therefore poets during this time period, usually spend a great amount of time explaining these diverse changes (Keane). “When the Negro Was in Vogue” by James Langston Hughes is one of the poems that’s main purpose is to explain the social and economical changes in their society (Hughes).

Most of “When the Negro Was in Vogue” is about the years of Manhattan’s black renaissance (Hughes). This means that African Americans are gaining rights, along with many other things (Hughes). In this poem Hughes expresses the concern African Americans felt, when the whites first arrived in Manhattan (Hughes). He says “ For several years they packed the expensive Cotton Club on Lenox Avenue. But I was never there, because the Cotton Club was a Jim Crow club for gangsters and monied whites. They were not cordial to Negro patronage,” (Hughes). This line of the poem obviously shows many of his concerns. Hughes says how whites packed the club for years, and how he was never there (Hughes). It is not sure whether Hughes wanted to attend this club or not, but this quote still expresses concern for the future.

This poem relates to Modernism in how Hughes expresses the changes that are occurring in Manhattan. Hughes said “It was a period when every season there was at least one hit play on Broadway acted by a Negro cast. And when books by Negro authors were being published with much greater frequency and much more publicity than ever before or since in history.” (Hughes). This quote completely explains how drastic the changes were in this time period. Hughes even said that these things had never ever happened before or since in history. Since one of the Modernism traits are social and historical changes, this poem fits right in the Modernism period (Hughes, Keane).

Langston Hughes grew up during the late 1800’s and early 1900’s (Jackson). First hand, Hughes saw these social changes between whites and blacks (Jackson). He started out struggling to get his poems published (Jackson). The white publishers first thought his works were not good enough to be included in magazines. Since Hughes lived in this time period, these problems were the main focus in his life (Jackson). Hughes once said “My purpose in life is not only to be a successful writer, but to help future poets and writers. I want the future African American writers to not have to deal with the problems we face every day.” (Jackson). This quote summarizes the passion Langston Hughes had for his career. These problems were the main purpose for his life, and he often included his everyday problems into his stories and poems. So Langston Hughes’ works often reveal some of the problems he faced in his life.

Most of Langston Hughes’ works are similar. Ever since Hughes dropped out of college to pursue his writing career, he has been writing for one purpose. Hughes has worked towards black rights through his writing. Because Hughes writes for one main purpose, all of his works have common traits. "The Negro Speaks of Rivers", is very similar to “When the Negro Was in Vogue” (Jackson, Hughes). Both of these poems express the need for equality. In fact, most of his poems, short plays, essays and short stories appeared in NAACP publications (Jackson). So all of Hughes’ works were similar in some way because each poem bared a message of equality.

Langston Hughes is very different than Thurber and Ransom. The main difference is in his purpose for writing. Unlike the others, Hughes is not only writing to please the reader, but also to explain the need for equality. There is one similar trait between Hughes and Thurber. This is their rational thinking (Hughes, Thurber). Through each story both authors think clearly and precisely to get the point across. For Hughes it was to express concerns for the future of African American authors, while Thurber told some tragic events that have happened to him through short stories (Hughes, Thurber). So even though their meanings were different, Thurber and Hughes both used rational thinking to get information across.

In conclusion, “When the Negro Was in Vogue” is about the changing surroundings of Manhattan (Hughes). During this time, African Americans are becoming authors, getting their stories published, and gaining popularity (Hughes). These social changes qualify this poem into the Modernism category. Hughes’ life greatly affected his poems (Jackson). Hughes faced many of the problems that African Americans dealt with and expressed his feelings through poetry (Jackson). Since Hughes focused on the problems in society, many of his works were similar. The only main difference between each of Hughes’ poems was a new problem that was introduced. So James Langston Hughes was an inspirational author that qualifies into the Modernism literary period with the poem “When the Negro Was in Vogue”.

Works Cited

Hann, Kellie T. "EDSITEment - Lesson Plan." //EDSITEment - The Best of the Humanities on the Web//. Academy of American Poets, 14 Jan. 2005. Web. 02 May 2010. < [] >

Hughes, Langston. "When the Negro Was in Vogue." //North Penn School District//. North Penn, 3 Mar. 1998. Web. 03 May 2010. .

Jackson, Andrew P. "Langston Hughes." //The Red Hot Jazz Archive//. 1987. Web. 04 May 2010. .

Keane, Melba C. "Modernism." //University of Toronto Scarborough//. 2000. Web. 03 May 2010. .

Thurber, James. "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty." //Zoetrope: All-Story//. Coppola Co., 2001. Web. 03 May 2010. .