Langston Hughes was one of the most prolific writers of the Harlem Renaissance. Hughes' works are best known for the sense of black pride they convey and for Hughes' implementation of jazz into his poetry. In 1926, Hughes wrote the critically acclaimed essay, "The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain" for The Nation magazine. In this essay, Hughes chastises artists who eschew their racial identity to satisfy fearful black and white audiences. Hughes' message to white audiences acknowledges his interest in black art as a stereotypical means of entertainment. Some of Hughes' most powerful poems, including "Me Too" and "Liberty," provide vivid evidence of the blasphemous behavior of black artists and white audiences of his era. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay What is important about Hughes' essay is why it was written. The goal was to embrace black culture and for black artists and authors to create their own artistic field. Hughes, however, had a poet tell him: "I want to be a poet, not a black poet, which I think means I want to write like a white poet, which is to say unconsciously I I would like to be a white poet, which means behind that, I would like to be white. This is powerful because it shows how society has put it into this poet's head that black people write differently than white people, thus showing the stereotype of black writers. The example Hughes used in his work was the journey of the man who wanted to become a white poet. What he learned was that the young poet was trying to be white. This was because he had different privileges that most black people did not have. This included coming from a middle-class family and a non-segregated school. What was crucial about this situation was that Hughes explained that he had been unable to enjoy the value and lives of his own people because he often separated himself from them. So, based on his surroundings, he felt that this was the reason why the poet embraced whiteness rather than what he truly was. Hughes' response regarding poets in general was also that the racial world of black people is just as interesting as any other world. He also believed that when it comes to being an artist, people should be able to choose what they decide to do and not be afraid of it. In "The Black Artist and the Racial Mountain," Hughes writes of a young black poet who proclaimed that he did not want to be an African-American poet, but just a poet. Hughes associates this comment with the black poet, meaning he would rather be a white poet and a whiter person. Nina Baym cites evidence of Hughes's outspoken protest on this matter, stating: "Early and later, Hughes's poems demanded that African Americans be recognized as owners of the culture they gave to the United States and as fully emancipated American citizens” (Baym 2027). If so, it means that the young black poet understands the problem of racism prevalent in the United States at that time. This means that the young black poet believes that the work of a white person is more easily accepted than this one. of a negro. Hughes wanted African American artists to be proud of their racial heritage. He recognized that many artists were fleeing their culture. Most of Hughes' poems are the result of his own life experiences and encounters with racism. He is not ashamed of being an African-American artist who writes about African-American culture for an African-American audience. Hughes.