Jazz, to me, is one of the inherent expressions of Negro life in America: the eternal tom-tom beating in the Negro soul—the tom-tom of revolt against weariness in a white world, a world of subway trains, and work, work, work; the tom-tom of joy and laughter, and pain swallowed in a smile.
Langston Hughes
Jazz, Resilience, African American, Cultural Expression, Emotional Complexity
Langston Hughes’s Quotes On Topics
Relationships | Age | Human Condition | Creative Expression | Racial Equality | Personal Heroes | Personal Philosophy | Sleep | Character Description | Economic Hardship | Appearance | Self-defense | American Life | Writing Career | Impatience | Seasons | Resilience | Self-discipline | Materialism | Economic Reality | More
More Langston Hughes Quotes
“We represent the end of race. And the Fascists know that when there is no more race, there will be no more capitalism, and no more war, and no more money for the munition makers, because the workers of the world will have triumphed.” Langston Hughes
Race, Capitalism, War, Workers’ Rights, Political Ideology
Langston Hughes Race, Capitalism, War, Workers’ Rights, Political Ideology“I don't dare start thinking in the morning. I don't dare start thinking in the morning. If I thought thoughts in bed, Them thoughts would bust my head – So I don't dare start thinking in the morning.” Langston Hughes
Fear, Anxiety, Overthinking, Mental Barriers, Psychological Struggle
Langston Hughes Fear, Anxiety, Overthinking, Mental Barriers, Psychological Struggle“She worked for the Studevants, who treated her like a dog. She stood it. Had to stand it; or work for poorer white folks who would treat her worse; or go jobless.” Langston Hughes
Racial Discrimination, Labor, Survival, Injustice, Limited Choices
Langston Hughes Racial Discrimination, Labor, Survival, Injustice, Limited Choices“When peoples care for you and cry for you, they can straighten out your soul.” Langston Hughes
Support, Human Connection, Empathy, Emotional Healing, Community
Langston Hughes Support, Human Connection, Empathy, Emotional Healing, Community“When poems stop talking about the moon and begin to mention poverty, trade unions, color, color lines and colonies, somebody tells the police.” Langston Hughes
Poetry, Activism, Censorship, Racial Injustice, Social Criticism
Langston Hughes Poetry, Activism, Censorship, Racial Injustice, Social Criticism“I am a Negro: Black as the night is black, Black like the depths of my Africa.” Langston Hughes
Identity, Race, Pride, Heritage, Poetic Imagery
Langston Hughes Identity, Race, Pride, Heritage, Poetic Imagery“The silence inside the library, the big chairs, and long tables, and the fact that the library was always there and didn’t seem to have a mortgage on it, or any sort of insecurity about it – all of that made me love it.” Langston Hughes
Library, Solitude, Comfort, Love Of Reading, Intellectual Sanctuary
Langston Hughes Library, Solitude, Comfort, Love Of Reading, Intellectual Sanctuary“Hold fast to dreams For when dreams go Life is a barren field Frozen with snow.” Langston Hughes
Dreams, Hope, Perseverance, Metaphor, Inspiration
Langston Hughes Dreams, Hope, Perseverance, Metaphor, Inspiration“That Justice is a blind goddess Is a thing to which we black are wise: Her bandage hides two festering sores That once perhaps were eyes.” Langston Hughes
Justice, Racial Inequality, Awareness, Social Critique, Blindness
Langston Hughes Justice, Racial Inequality, Awareness, Social Critique, Blindness“Even the 'Negro' shows like 'Amos and Andy' and 'Beulah' are written largely by white writers - the better to preserve the stereotypes, I imagine.” Langston Hughes
Racism, Media Representation, Stereotypes, Cultural Critique, Social Commentary
Langston Hughes Racism, Media Representation, Stereotypes, Cultural Critique, Social Commentary“When a man starts out to build a world, He starts first with himself.” Langston Hughes
Self-improvement, Responsibility, Social Change, Personal Growth, Ambition
Langston Hughes Self-improvement, Responsibility, Social Change, Personal Growth, Ambition“My soul has grown deep like the rivers.” Langston Hughes
Soul, Depth, Rivers, Metaphor, Personal Growth
Langston Hughes Soul, Depth, Rivers, Metaphor, Personal Growth“Humor is when the joke's on you but hits the other fellow first – before it boomerangs.” Langston Hughes
Humor, Self-deprecation, Human Nature, Social Observation, Wit
Langston Hughes Humor, Self-deprecation, Human Nature, Social Observation, Wit“Violent anger makes me physically ill.” Langston Hughes
Anger, Health, Emotion, Personal Boundary, Self-awareness
Langston Hughes Anger, Health, Emotion, Personal Boundary, Self-awareness“I stuck my head out the window this morning and spring kissed me bang in the face.” Langston Hughes
Spring, Joy, Nature, Sensory Experience, Poetic Expression
Langston Hughes Spring, Joy, Nature, Sensory Experience, Poetic Expression“I must never write when I do not want to write.” Langston Hughes
Writing, Creativity, Self-discipline, Artistic Integrity, Personal Philosophy
Langston Hughes Writing, Creativity, Self-discipline, Artistic Integrity, Personal Philosophy“It’s such a Bore Being always Poor.” Langston Hughes
Poverty, Frustration, Social Commentary, Economic Struggle, Human Condition
Langston Hughes Poverty, Frustration, Social Commentary, Economic Struggle, Human Condition“Money and art are far apart.” Langston Hughes
Art, Money, Value, Cultural Dichotomy, Economic Struggle
Langston Hughes Art, Money, Value, Cultural Dichotomy, Economic Struggle