This year we join the Raven Book Store in celebrating the birthday of Lawrence poet Langston Hughes with featured readings by Darren Canady, José Faus and the poet himself. The Langston Hughes Creative Writing Awards will be back in 2022 with an in-person celebration of award winners, live music and birthday cake. In the meantime, we hope you enjoy this short video & blow out the candles with us on this special day!
About the Langston Hughes Creative Writing Awards
Since 1997, the Langston Hughes Award has sought to encourage and support writers in Douglas County, Kansas who are continuing to present their life experiences creatively through poetry, stories, and non-fiction prose.
Growing up in Lawrence prepared Langston Hughes (1902-1967) to understand the difficulties of a racist society as well as the complexities of life itself. He responded by writing in diverse genres and styles, drawing on the rich culture of African Americans and the many voices of American democracy. His writing shifted from the psychological and political to the lyrical, the tragic, and the humorous. His work crossed literary boundaries and sought to express a clearer, more memorable vision of the reality he experienced.