Celebrating Langston Hughes and Historic Moments

Quick Smiles:

• Langston Hughes, born 125 years ago, became a leading voice in the Harlem Renaissance.
• Grand Central Terminal opened as the world’s largest train station in 1913.
• The Beatles made history with back-to-back hits at number one.

Langston Hughes, born 125 years ago, shaped American literature and culture with his poetry, plays, and essays while contributing to the Harlem Renaissance. His writings explored the vibrancy and complexity of Black life in America from the 1920s through the 1960s.

His work celebrated joy, humor, and music within working-class Black communities, and his first collection, The Weary Blues, remains a cornerstone of jazz poetry.

“Droning a drowsy syncopated tune,
Rocking back and forth to a mellow croon,
I heard a Negro play.
Down on Lenox Avenue the other night
By the pale dull pallor of an old gas light.”

In his essay The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain, he encouraged artists to express themselves authentically and with pride.

“The younger Negro artists who create now intend to express our individual dark-skinned selves without fear or shame. If white people are pleased we are glad. If they are not, it doesn’t matter. We know we are beautiful. And ugly, too. The tom-tom cries, and the tom-tom laughs. If colored people are pleased we are glad. If they are not, their displeasure doesn’t matter either. We build our temples for tomorrow, strong as we know how, and we stand on top of the mountain free within ourselves.”

Other remarkable moments on this day include the debut of New York’s Grand Central Terminal and Canada’s pioneering step in supporting same-sex marriage.

Sixty-two years ago, The Beatles sparked the British Invasion in America with “I Want to Hold Your Hand” taking over the charts and setting record sales.

The Shard, London’s tallest building, opened its viewing platform, offering visitors unforgettable panoramic views of the city and new ways to explore its iconic skyline.

Today also marks the start of Black History Month in the US, remembering events like the impactful Greensboro sit-ins that advanced civil rights and made history.

Enjoy these inspiring milestones and let their stories uplift your day. For more joy-filled news and outstanding achievements, stay tuned with us.

Source