Black Misery

Langston Hughes

P. S. Eriksson, 1969 - African American children - 60 pages

Brief but powerful collection of racial "observations" written during the turbulent 60s.

What people are saying

LibraryThing Review

User Review  - janeyiaC - LibraryThing

Black Misery is about seeing through eyes and feelings of a Black child living in times where elements of racism was a norm in the United States. I think this book would be great for fourth graders ...

LibraryThing Review

User Review  - emithomp - LibraryThing

Echoing "Happiness Is . . . " Langston Hughes looks at what is misery. Though dated, this book makes some very clear points about being African-American in the U.S. It also looks at the world through ...

About the author

Langston Hughes, February 1, 1902 - May 22, 1967 Langston Hughes, one of the foremost black writers to emerge from the Harlem Renaissance, was born on February 1, 1902, in Joplin, Mo. Hughes briefly attended Columbia University before working numerous jobs including busboy, cook, and steward. While working as a busboy, he showed his poems to American poet Vachel Lindsay, who helped launch his career. He soon obtained a scholarship to Lincoln University and had several works published. Hughes is noted for his depictions of the black experience. In addition to the black dialect, he incorporated the rhythms of jazz and the blues into his poetry. While many recognized his talent, many blacks disapproved of his unflattering portrayal of black life. His numerous published volumes include, "The Weary Blues," "Fine Clothes to the Jew," and "Montage of a Dream Deferred." Hughes earned several awards during his lifetime including: a Guggenheim fellowship, an American Academy of Arts and Letters Grant, and a Spingarn Medal from the NAACP. Langston Hughes died of heart failure on May 22, 1967.

Bibliographic information

• Title: Black Misery
• Author: Langston Hughes
• Illustrated by: Arouni
• Edition: illustrated
• Publisher: P. S. Eriksson, 1969
• Original from: the University of Michigan
• Digitized: Mar 7, 2008
• ISBN: 0839710305, 9780839710301
• Length: 60 pages