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Wednesday, May 14, 2025

'Langston is My Man' Poetry Performance

'Langston is My Man' Poetry Performance

The performers of "Langston is My Man" sing poems soulfully.

On Tuesday, Feb. 21, the Office of Diversity & Inclusion

hosted an event in Wygal Auditorium in honor of Langston

Hughes as a part of the celebration of Black History

Month. Richmond's African American Repertory Theatre

came to Longwood University and put on a performance

titled "Langston is My Man."

Langston Hughes is a famous African-American poet,

particularly known for his jazz poetry. "Langston is My

Man" was a commemoration to his poems in which the

Richmond African American Repertory Theatre got on

stage and recited his poetry in a creative and energetic way.

Complete with singing and dancing, the performers were

truly passionate about their show, dressing in appropriate

attire to represent the black community of Hughes' time

and putting their all into the show.

Sophomore and Student Diversity & Inclusion Council

member Hilary Gladstone said, "It was really wonderful

hearing Langston Hughes' poems come to life." There was

even one moment in the performance where the actors on

stage started creating music with brooms and banging on

pots and pans, bringing the whole auditorium to life.

The event was meant to help students "see that Black History

Month is something that can be interesting for all students,"

according to Dr. Jamie Riley, director of the Office

of Diversity & Inclusion. Riley said, "I really wanted them

to come learn and hear something new and just be able to

enjoy and celebrate the black history."

Representing Richmond's African American Repertory

Theatre, assistant director Jerome Smith said he thought

the performance "really celebrates the life and dreams of

Langston Hughes, and it coincides with the dreams of everybody."

Smith shared, "All of us have dreams and I think

that's what Langston was all about – the dreams."

Hughes was right to chase after his dreams. In creating

his poetry, he was able to move society and help spread his

culture. Gladstone said, "There are many wonderful traditions

of many cultures." And there really are, one of them

being Hughes' lively poetry.

Black History Month has been celebrated all over campus.

The Office of Diversity & Inclusion has hosted many

events. But according to Riley, "This one was important, I

think, specifically because we were looking for activities

that were not only enjoyable, but educational for students,

and that kind of informed them on the history in a fun, different

type of way."

The audience was in awe as they watched the performers

chant Hughes' poems and, in some instances, sing their

hearts out. Riley said this show was chosen to be brought

to campus because "when we heard about ‘Langston is My

Man' as a play, we thought it was a way to expose students

to Langston Hughes' poetry from something different than

they get in the classroom."

"Langston is My Man" was an inspiring performance.

Hughes' poetry conveys some great messages about not

giving up and chasing your dreams. Smith said, "It's not

just for African-Americans, it's for everybody … the words

are so powerful, and they instill in everybody [that] we can

go as far as the sky."

The performers of "Langston is My Man" sing poems soulfully.