I have discovered in life that there are ways of getting almost anywhere you want to go, if you really want to go.
My writing has been largely concerned with the depicting of Negro life in America.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects Langston Hughes' focus on capturing the experiences of African Americans in his writing.
Langston Hughes emphasizes that his literary work has predominantly centered around representing the realities and experiences of African Americans, showcasing their lives, struggles, and contributions within the American cultural landscape. This focus serves not only as an artistic endeavor but also as a powerful form of social commentary and identity affirmation, contributing to the broader narrative of American history.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
During a speech about cultural representation, one might say, 'As Langston Hughes reflected, my writing has been largely concerned with the depicting of Negro life in America.'
More from Langston Hughes
All quotes →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.
An artist must be free to choose what he does, certainly, but he must also never be afraid to do what he might choose.
The calm, Cool face of the river, Asked me for a kiss
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.
Most musicians remain poor. But the music that they make, even if it does not bring them millions, gives millions of people happiness.
Similar quotes
Much good art got made while money ruled; I like a lot of it, and hardship and poverty aren't virtues. The good news is that, since almost no one will be selling art, artists - especially emerging ones - won't have to think about turning out a consistent style or creating a brand. They'll be able to experiment as much as they want.
But I really resist categories – that naming is a closing down of meaning. Women's art, political art – those categorisations perpetuate a certain kind of marginality which I'm resistant to. But I absolutely define myself as a feminist.
I love entertaining people; I strive to make them feel good, and they make me feel wonderful. To explain it simply, I like what I do, and my ambition is to get better as I get older. That's really what I'm all about.
You’ll find that the movie business is paid for by those mega movies. The movie business is paid for by Big Macs. By movies as product. Movie studios use that term “product” all the time. Product? You mean you have a lot of stories? No, we have a lot of product. You have stories.
Perfume is a form of writing, an ink, a choice made in the first person, the dot on the i, a weapon, a courteous gesture, part of the instant, a consequence.
I'm a failed poet. Maybe every novelist wants to write poetry first, finds he can't, and then tries the short story, which is the most demanding form after poetry. And, failing at that, only then does he take up novel writing.