Poetry for Young People

By Langston Hughes
http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/83 Illustrated by Benny Andrews
http://bennyandrews.com/
Published Sterling Publishing co., Inc New York, 2006
There are words like freedom
Sweet and wonderful to say.
On my heartstrings freedom sings
All day everyday
Annotation
Langston Hughes writes African American centric poetry. A selection of celebratory poetry for young people to experience full of rhythmic steam.
Personal reaction
A happier thing would be hard to find after seeing a group of Kindergartners recite Langston Hughes strong fresh prose. I work at a school where Langston is taught from K to 5th. I am ashamed to say before I worked here I new nothing of his work. I also had never marched and sang black freedom gospal before this school. My life will never change as much as those songs promised and I will never truly know the battle Hughes illustrates through his optimistic African American perspective. But I can try through the eyes of young African Americans learning about their struggle and celebration through his poetry. I can march and hold hands with a bright eyed Kindergartner and feel deep in myself what Langston's words mean, it is a big feeling, a water in my eyes feeling.
**Poetry
Starred review
Children's Core Collection
African American Poetry
Civil rights
Optimism