Langston Hughes Signed Howard University Sorority Afternoon Forum Program.

HUGHES, Langston.

$1,250.00

Item Number: 147803

[Washington, D.C.]: [Howard University], [1947].

Original Howard University Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Afternoon Forum Program signed by Langston Hughes. One page, quarto, folded sheet, typescript, contemporary copy of typed program for forum organized by Howard’s Delta Sigma Theta sorority and held at the Andrew Rankin Memorial Chapel on May 3, 1947, with list of patrons followed by Hughes’s poem, “The Negro Speaks of Rivers” (1921). Signed by Langston Hughes at lower edge of first page. In very good condition with moderate toning and a few patron names underlined in unknown hand.

Langston Hughes, one of the most prominent figures of the Harlem Renaissance, had a significant yet complex relationship with Howard University, often referred to as the "Mecca" of Black education. Although not an alumnus, Hughes maintained a lasting affiliation with the institution through his professional and literary endeavors. Howard awarded Hughes an honorary doctorate in 1963, recognizing his extraordinary contributions to literature and the cultural elevation of African American life. The university served as a hub for intellectual exchange, where Hughes delivered lectures, engaged with students, and found a receptive audience for his works. His poems and essays, which often explored themes of racial identity, social justice, and Black pride, resonated deeply with Howard’s academic community and its broader mission of empowering African Americans. Hughes’ affiliation with Howard underscored his broader commitment to using education and literature as tools for social change and the affirmation of Black cultural heritage.