From a March 1992 conference at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania, 17 essays examine the life, work, and legacy of African American writer and activist Hughes (1902-67). Many of the contributors knew him personally. They discuss his pre- eminent role in the Harlem Renaissance; issues of race, culture, and gender; his personal library and exhibits; and his drama.

Includes bibliographical references and index. "Conference proceedings held at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania on March 26, 27, 28, 1992."--T.p. verso.

P(a)lace for Langston Hughes / C. James Trotman -- Langston Hughes: the man and the writer, an introduction / Emery Wimbish, Jr. -- In celebration of Langston Hughes / Niara Sudarkasa -- Introduction to Arnold Rampersad / Thomas C. Phelps -- Langston Hughes: the man, the writer, and his continuing influence / Arnold Rampersad -- Whose sweet angel child? Blues women, Langston Hughes, and writing during the Harlem Renaissance / Cheryl A. Wall -- Langston Hughes: poetry, blues, and gospel-somewhere to stand / Steven C. Tracy -- Africanisms and postmodernist imagination in the popular fiction of Langston Hughes / Ropo Sekoni. Kindred spirits and sympathetic souls: Langston Hughes and Gwendolyn Bennett in the Harlem Renaissance / Sandra Y. Govan -- Langston Hughes's "Nigger Heaven Blues" / Bruce Kellner -- Race, culture, and gender in Langston Hughes's "The Ways of White Folks" / Joyce Ann Joyce -- "For All the Kids to Come": the troubled island of William Grant Still and Langston Hughes / C. James Trotman -- Achieving universality through simple truths / Donna Akiba Sullivan Harper -- Physics of change in "Father and Son" / R. Baxter Miller -- Girl with the red dress on / Kristin Hunter-Lattany -- Reading the woman's face in Langston Hughes and Roy DeCarava's "Sweet Flypaper of Life" / Thadious M. Davis. Hughes's personal library and exhibits / Sophy H. Cornwell -- Hughes as dramatist / Ella Forbes.