James Mercer Langston Hughes was an American poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist. He was one of the earliest innovators of the then-new literary art form called jazz poetry.

Born: February 1, 1902, Joplin, Missouri, United States
Died: May 22, 1967, New York City, New York, United States
Awards: Spingarn Medal, More
Education: Lincoln University (1926–1929), Columbia University (1921–1922)
Plays: Black Nativity, Tambourines to Glory, Mule Bone, Jerico-Jim Crow