JOHN EGGERS COLUMN: Who was Langston Hughes? Langston Hughes was a poet and according to his biographer, “Around the world he was heard as the voice of the American Negro, a designation that probably embarrassed him, for he knew that every writer speaks first for himself and himself alone.” Written By: John Eggers | × If a teacher would have asked me in 1960 or maybe even 1970, “Have you read any of Langston Hughes’ poems?” I would have said, “Langston, who?” Before talk about Langston Hughes I need to inform the reader of my own experience to better understand African-American culture, which would be not unlike the experiences of many Minnesotans, especially the elderly population.