“Words on Fire:” Langston Hughes and the Black Hegelian Poetic in The Panther and the Lash
Abstract
Langston Hughes (1901-1967), the American poet, novelist, playwright, and social activist, is not only a central figure in American literature but also considered one of the pioneers of a distinct African American literary voice. From his integral part of the literary and intellectual scene of the Harlem Renaissance to the American Civil Rights era, Hughes’ powerful and innovative work captured the struggles, joys, and complexities of Black life. While Hughes’ catalog is exhaustive, this study focuses on his final collection, The Panther and the Lash (1967), which offers an exemplary depiction of Hughes’ evolving philosophical thought.
His formulation of major racial, social, and political themes and subjects in the collection reveals the profound impact of Hughes’ intellectual mentor, W. E. B. Du Bois, and his study of Hegelian dialectical philosophy. What emerges, I argue, a Black Hegelian poetic—the conceptualization of Hegelian philosophical principles to explore and articulate the complexities of Black experiences and identity, signifying a synthesis of philosophical thought, cultural consciousness, and poetic expression. The analysis of The Panther and the Lash showcases Hughes’ ability to intensify differences, negate contraries, and engage in a continual process of formation and re-formation. Thus, readers can interrogate his Black responses to the historical, socio-political movements and events that have taken place towards the end of his life.
Keywords
Langston Hughes, W. E. B. Du Bois, Hegel, dialectical philosophy, African American aesthetics, poetry
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