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Langston Hughes House

February 1st was the 105th birthday of Renaissance writer Langston Hughes. Mr. Hughes was born in 1902 and died May 22, 1967 of complications due to prostate cancer. During a part of his residence in Harlem, Hughes lived at 20 East 127th Street. The home, a designated landmark, was recently purchased and refurbished by a non-profit media production group working with kids.

It is fitting that an organization with children should take over the home of Hughes. The photo to the right is of Hughes surrounded by neighborhood children in his garden. The story behind the picture is that the neighborhood children would routinely trample on the small patch of earth beside the front steps of his Harlem residence. To prevent them from doing it, Hughes created a tiny garden that was planted and maintained by the children. The garden was named the Children’s Garden and a child’s name was posted on a picket beside each plant.

This past week kicked off a month long celebration of Langston’s 105th Birthday celebration and the grand opening of the Langston House. Visit the website below for a list of upcoming events and to learn more about the Hughes House.

Langston Hughes House
20 E 127th St.
Harlem
New York, NY
212-927-3413
http://www.thehugheshouse.org

Related: Bryan Collier :: A wrung sponge ::

Photo credit: Langston Hughes in his children’s garden (1955) Hunstein, Don (photographer);CREDIT LINE: Yale Collection of American Literature, Beninecke Rare Book and Manuscripte Library