February 1 tags New Ideas, New Possibilities

Posts tagged with February 1

Posted by Lawrence Morgan on February 3, 2013 at 1:28 a.m.

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February 1st - Langston Hughes birthday

NY Times article by Lawrence Morgan

Has Lawrence forgotten that February 1st was Langston Hughes birthday?

The web site in kansapedia, the Kansas Historical Journal website, gives you a brief introduction.

http://www.kshs.org/kansapedia/langston-hughes/15506

as well as the Kansas Historical Journal website for young people:

http://www.kshs.org/p/langston-hughes/13339

He was a wonderful man, and a wonderful poet.

Here are a few quotations from his work.

*soul   world*

I've known rivers: I've known rivers ancient as the world and older than the flow of human blood in Human veins. My soul has grown deep like the rivers.

Source: The Negro Speaks of Rivers, 1926

Quick, sunrise, come! Sunrise out of Africa, Quick, come!

Source: Junior Addict, 1967

*art   change   duty   force   people*

It is the duty of the younger Negro artist . . . to change through the force of his art that old whispering "I want to be white," hidden in the aspirations of his people, to "Why should I want to be white? I am a Negro - and beautiful!"

satisfaction

I got the Weary Blues And I can't be satisfied.

Source: The Weary Blues, 1926

*humor    laughter*

Humor is laughing at what you haven't got when you ought to have it.

Melting pot Harlem - Harlem of honey and chocolate and caramel and rum and vinegar and lemon and lime and gall . . . where the subway from the Bronx keeps right on downtown.

Source: Freedomways, Summer, 1963

*earth    humor*

Like a welcome summer rain, humor may suddenly cleanse and cool the earth, the air and you.

kiss

Let the rain kiss you. Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid drops. Let the rain sing you a lullaby.

Source: April Rain Song, 1902 – 1967

*birds    death    dreams    life*

Hold fast to dreams For if dreams die, Life is a broken-winged bird That cannot fly.

*freedom*

I am the American heartbreak- The rock on which Freedom Stumped its toe.

dreams justice

What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up Like a raisin in the sun? Maybe it just sags Like a heavy load. Or does it explode?

From Gaiam.

And for those of you who don't yet know Langhston Hughes, it is time right now to become informed! Get one of his books, read them, and share them with others.