I have discovered in life that there are ways of getting almost anywhere you want to go, if you really want to go.
Langston HughesRead
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!"
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the responsibility of artists to redefine identity and self-worth within their communities.
Langston Hughes articulates the essential duty of young Black artists to challenge and transform the internalized desire for whiteness among their peers into a celebration of Black identity and beauty. This statement underscores the power of art as a means of social change and self-acceptance, urging artists to use their creative voices to inspire pride and a redefinition of cultural narratives.
Themes
ArtIdentitySelf-AcceptanceBlack CultureBeautyPride
In practice
Example use cases
During a panel talk about the role of art in activism, one might use this quote to underscore the importance of representation.
More from Langston Hughes
All quotes →My writing has been largely concerned with the depicting of Negro life in America.
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I tire so of hearing people say, Let things take their course. Tomorrow is another day. I do not need my freedom when I'm dead. I cannot live on tomorrow's bread.
Langston HughesRead
An artist must be free to choose what he does, certainly, but he must also never be afraid to do what he might choose.
Langston HughesRead
The calm, Cool face of the river, Asked me for a kiss
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The only way to get a thing done is to start to do it, then keep on doing it, and finally you'll finish it.
Langston HughesRead
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