By subscribing to Inspiring Quotes you are agreeing to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Langston Hughes was a poet, novelist, playwright, and columnist who became one of the leaders of the Harlem Renaissance, a movement of the 1920s and ’30s that focused on the intellectual and cultural revival of African American artistry, encompassing everything from literature to dance to fashion. Artistically, Hughes was perhaps best known as an early innovator of jazz poetry, of which he published several collections. This quote comes from one such poem, entitled “Dreams.” As a social activist, Hughes wrote an influential weekly column for “The Chicago Defender,” one of the leading Black newspapers at the time. In 1926, he penned “The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain,” a landmark essay that became something of a manifesto for the Harlem Renaissance. In it, he identified the movement’s goals and dreams, writing, “We build our temples for tomorrow, strong as we know how, and we stand on top of the mountain, free within ourselves.”
Quotes To Help You Live a More Spontaneous Life
Unconventional Aging Advice From 10 Centenarians
16 Instantly Recognizable Song Lyrics
12 Quotes on Staying Flexible and Open-Minded
The Classics: Quotes From History’s Greatest Poems
What Did Descartes Mean by ‘I Think, Therefore I Am’?
Quotes To Help You Tap Into Your Inner Strength
15 Quotes About the Unbreakable Bonds Among Women
The Best Lyrics To Come Out of the British Invasion
The Oldest Jokes in History
11 Quotes To Help a Friend Through a Tough Time