Criticism

Anderson, Sherwood. "Paying for Old Sins." The Nation 139, No. 360 (11 July 1934): 49-50.

Considers The Ways of White Folks a worthwhile book but believes Hughes's writing is hurt by his hatred for whites.

Davis, Thadious M. "Reading the Woman's Face in Langston Hughes's and Roy De Carava's Sweet Flypaper of Life." The Langston Hughes Review XII, No. 1 (Spring 1993) 22-8.

Discusses the role of change in Sweet Flypaper of Life.

Dodson, Owen. "Carousels and Rain." Poetry 71 (1948): 279-81.

Favorably reviews Fields of Wonder.

Evans, Nicholas M. "Langston Hughes as Bop Ethnographer in 'Trumpet Player: 52nd Street'." Library Chronicle of the University of Texas 24, No. 1-2 (1994): 119-35.

Analyzes Hughes's portrayal of the jazz subculture in his poetry.

Ford, Karen Jackson. "Do Right to Write Right: Langston Hughes's Aesthetics of Simplicity." Twentieth Century Literature 38, No. 4 (Winter 1992): 436-56.

Argues that Hughes's strength lies in his simple poems.

Harper, Donna Akiba Sullivan. "'The Apple of His Eye': Dubois on Hughes." The Langston Hughes Review 5, No. 2 (Fall 1986): 29-33.

Argues that DuBois was impressed with Hughes because Hughes portrayed life truthfully.

Hutchinson, George B. "Langston Hughes and the 'Other' Whitman." In The Continuing Presence of Walt Whitman: The Life after the Life, edited by Robert K. Martin, pp. 16-27. Iowa City: University of Iowa Press, 1992.

Chronicles the influence of Walt Whitman on Hughes.

McLaren, Joseph. "Early Recognitions: Duke Ellington and Langston Hughes in New York, 1920–1930." In The Harlem Renaissance: Revaluations, edited by Amritjit Singh, William S. Shiver, and Stanley Brodwin, pp. 195-208. New York: Garland Publishing, 1989.

Compares the careers of jazz musician Duke Ellington and Hughes, arguing that they fit into both "high" and "low" art.

Neal, Larry. "Langston Hughes: Black America's Poet Laureate." In American Writing Today, edited by Richard Kostelanetz, pp. 61-72. Troy, New York: Whitston Publishing Co., 1991.

Provides an overview of Hughes's poetry.

Peterkin, Julia. "Negro Blue and Gold." Poetry 31 (October 1927): 44-7.

Praises the rhythms and diversity of subjects in Fine Clothes for the Jew.

Sanders, Leslie Catherine. "'Also Own the Theatre': Representation in the Comedies of Langston Hughes." The Langston Hughes Review 11, No. 1 (Spring 1992): 6-13.

Chronicles the difficulties Hughes faced in presenting his vision of African-America on stage.

Shields, John P. "'Never Cross the Divide': Reconstructing Langston Hughes's Not Without Laughter." African American Review 28, No. 4 (1994): 601-13.

Illustrates how Hughes altered Not Without Laughter to meet with the approval of his patron Charlotte Mason.

Walker, Alice. "Turning into Love: Some Thoughts on Surviving and Meeting Langston Hughes." Callaloo 12, No. 4 (Fall 1989): 663-66.

Discusses the impact Walker's friendship with Hughes had on her career.

White, Jeannette S. and Clement A. White. "Two nations, One Vision. America's Langston Hughes and Cuba's Nicolás Guillén: Poetry of Affirmation: A Revolution." The Langston Hughes Review XII, No. 1 (Spring 1993): 42-50.

Compare the works of Hughes and Nicolás Guillén, arguing that Hughes served as a muse for Guillén.