“Let America be America again.
Let it be the dream it used to be.
Let it be the pioneer on the plain
Seeking a home where he himself is free.

(America never was America to me.)

Let America be the dream the dreamers dreamed—
Let it be that great strong land of love
Where never kings connive nor tyrants scheme
That any man be crushed by one above.

(It never was America to me.) “

excerpt from “Let America Be America Again” by Langston Hughes

Today, on this 1st day of Black History Month, we honor and celebrate the birthday of our namesake, Langston Hughes (2/1/1902 – 5/22/1967.)   Langston Hughes worked as a busboy at the Wardman Park Hotel (DC) in the 1920s, prior to gaining recognition as a poet. 


The great American writer wrote more than 60 books, including poems, novels, short stories, plays, children’s poetry, autobiographies, musicals, and operas. Order your copies of Langston Hughes’ works: https://linktr.ee/busboysandpoets

EVENTS


KaNikki Langston

Monday, February 1, 2021 @ 8 PM – 10 PM

Join us for a birthday tribute & open mic on Instagram Live, hosted by the 1st Black Poet Laureate of Alexandria, KaNikki Jakarta. 

Join us for a birthday tribute & open mic on Instagram Live, hosted by the 1st Black Poet Laureate of Alexandria, KaNikki Jakarta.

Bring your favorite Langston Hughes poem to share during the open mic!

instagram.com/busboysandpoets


MWD064 Poetry on Ice social 1080x10801

Wednesday, February 3, 2021 @ 4 PM – 9 PM

Meet us on the rink for an in-person celebration “Poetry on Ice” featuring poetry, music, a pop-up bookstore, food, drinks and ice skating at the site of our forthcoming location in Columbia, MD.

Another treat? Skating admission is just $7!


DRINKS

WearyBlues Drink

Birthday CHEERS to Langston Hughes with our specialty cocktail, The Weary Blues.

  • Bourbon blend
  • lemon juice
  • honey syrup
  • muddled blueberries

available in single, double, and 33 oz servings order.busboysandpoets.com


PHOTO 2024 02 01 07 10 14

For Langston Hughes on His 123 Birthday

Speech given on February 1, 2024 in Havana, Cuba In 1927 Langston Hughes walked into a Cuba amid an emerging community of artists, intellectuals, and radicals.  He saw a “sunrise in a new land [– a day – in his words]sic – full of brownskin surprises, and hitherto unknown contacts in a world of color.”  … Continued

PALESTINE WEEK 1920 x 1080 px 2

Palestine Week 2024

January 18, 2024 – January 25, 2024 In keeping with our ongoing mission of uplifting racial and cultural connections, Busboys and Poets is hosting Palestine Week (January 18 through January 25, 2024). This week-long series of events will offer a diverse range of programming featuring Palestinian food, music, dance, poetry, discussions, and other enriching events. … Continued

monica roo

Split This Rock Poem of the Week: Monica Rico

The Universe, According to Rufino Tamayo  Past the breath that only stars have, I find myself an open hand of night with pupils that eclipse the moon. The blackness underneath my feet, not above where the sky is filled with sea. My eyelash covers the arm of the galaxy with one word that means, here. I shake … Continued

7. Cuba – the unveiling of the plaque

Follow along for the Busboys and Poets Travel Tribe’s Cultural Exchange trip to Cuba (July 6-13, 2022) By Andy Shallal (@andyshallal CEO/Founder, Busboys and Poets) Nicolas Guillen’s office overlooks the lush gardens of the Union of Writers and Artists. It is frozen in time. The rotary telephone. The Royal typewriter. Even the original chair and desk. … Continued

The Impact: Mass Incarceration

The Impact: Mass Incarceration

The Impact of Mass Incarceration is the first of “The Impact” series hosted by Busboys and Poets Books.  Our weeklong program delves into the impact of mass incarceration and will address the inequities of the criminal legal system. The series will explore The Impact on victims, their communities, their families, and the lack of resources … Continued