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From the US to Cuba: The Poetry of Langston Hughes and Nicolás Guillén

With Prince George's County Poet Laureate, Dr. Khadijah Z. Ali-Coleman

Explore the poetic collaboration between Langston Hughes and Nicolás Guillén, bridging African and Afro-Cuban themes. Join Dr. Khadijah Z. Ali-Coleman, Poet Laureate of Prince George's County, MD, for insights and readings from these influential poets' works for National Poetry Month!

Dr. Khadijah Z. Ali-Coleman, photo source.

In 1930, Langston Hughes' (1901-1967) visit to Cuba created a buzz in the artistic community, as his poetry was more familiar to Cubans than Guillén's. The two poets quickly became close friends, and Hughes recognized the parallels between 'son' and the blues. Hughes encouraged Guillén to centralize the rhythms of 'son' in his poetry, drawing inspiration from Afro-Cuban speech, song, and dance.  Under Hughes' influence, Guillén departed from his previous style and wrote eight poems that marked a significant departure. This transformation solidified Guillén's reputation as a leading poet in the Négritude movement, spanning the Americas.

 Nicolas Guillén (1902-1989), a prominent Latin American poet, is widely recognized for his influence in incorporating African themes and infusing literary form with African song and dance rhythms. His international breakthrough came with the 1930 publication of "Motivos de son," inspired by the living conditions of Afro-Cubans and the son music. This collection of eight short poems, written in the everyday language of Afro Cubans, played a pivotal role in emphasizing and validating Afro-Cuban culture within Cuban literature.