Langston  Huges was born in Missouri in 1902. As a growing child he was passed from one relative to another, and one town to another (Topeka, Chicago, Cleveland, Toluca, and Mexico.) Consequently, he was never close to his parents. Finding himself the only black child in the schools he attended, he was subjected to the  type of race motivated derision that is common in a race conscious society. But in spite of the treatment he received from his schoolmates he excelled in school, going on to become the editor-and-chief of the high school paper & school poet at his high school. Also, it was during his high school years that some of his most memorable poems were written and published.
After high school he came to New York City to attend Columbia University. It wasn't long belong he discovered Harlem. As a college freshman he spend most of his free time enjoying Florence Mills at the 63rd Street Theatre, or listening to lectures and poetry at the 135th street branch of the New York Public Library. Eventually, Langston left Columbia University to pursue his career as a poet and essayist.
For a few years, between 1922 to 1925 Huges traveled abroad as a merchant marine. He visited West Africa, Paris, and Italy. After his travels he returned to the nation's capitol and worked as a busboy, and later went  back to Harlem. In Harlem his writing pursuits were supported by a wealthy admirer named Charlotte van der Veer Quick Mason. She was affectionately called "Godmother" and later he was supported by Rosenwald Funk.
Langston traveled to Russia in the 1930s, then returned home to lecture and continue writing.During this period until the end of his life he was considered a  radical and outspoken communist sympathizer. In 1967 Langston died in New York City at 65.
Without question Langston Huges was the most popular writer of the Harlem Renaissance. His literature was inspired by the black experience in America.