Marking his 113th birthday, Google creates a Langston Hughes doodle. When you logged onto your computer/tablet/phone on February 1st and navigated to Google, you probable saw a video with a fun vibrant animation of a man typing on an old fashion typewriter, while rhythmical jazz tunes played in the background. This Langston Hughes Google doodle depicts the caricature of the African-American poet and lines from his poem “I Dream A World.” You might wonder why Google would pay homage to a man you most like have never heard of, until now.
First, February is Black History Month, where the accomplishments and achievements of African-Americans are celebrated. Second, Hughes’ contribution to the literary world has been significant on a global scale, as well as influential to the African-American culture. It was the era of the Harlem Renaissance during the roaring 20s up to the mid 1930s, when there was a cultural, social, and artistic explosion – making Harlem a cultural mecca for black musicians, artists, and writers.
The first poem I ever read from his repertoire was “Harlem Sweeties,” a lyrical prose outlining the array of hues that make up the skin tones of black beauties, featuring verses such as “Walnut tinted or cocoa brown. Pomegranate-lipped, pride of the town” and “Rich cream-colored to plum-tinted black. Feminine sweetness, in Harlem’s no lack.” The man had a way with words. Check out the video of the Langston Hughes Google doodle above!
Image source: Google
