Langston Hughes's full name was James Langston Hughes. Langston Hughes was born February 1, 1902, in Joplin, Missouri. Langston Hughes began writing poetry in Lincoln, Illinois. He spent a year in Mexico and a year in Columbia University. He held many odd jobs as an assistant cook, launderer, busboy, selling newspapers, selling maple seeds he collected to a seed company, working at a hotel, and he even traveled to Africa and Europe working as a seaman. 
On November 1924, Langston Hughes moved to Washington, D.C. Alfred A. Knopf published Hughes's first book of poetry, The Weary Blues, in 1926. Three years later, Hughes finished his college education at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania. In 1930, Hughes's first novel, Not Without Laughter, won the Harmon gold medal for literature. Hughes is known for his insightful and colorful portrayals of black life in America from the twenties through the sixties. He wrote short stories, novels, and plays, as well as poetry. He wanted to tell the stories of his people in ways that expressed  and reflected their actual culture, this includes both their suffering and their love of music, laughter, and language itself. 
On May 22, 1967, Langston Hughes died of complications from prostate cancer in New York. In his memory, the New York City Preservation Commission gave his residence at 20 East 127th Street in Harlem, New York City a landmark status. Also, East 127th Street has been renamed "Langston Hughes Place".