By subscribing to Inspiring Quotes you are agreeing to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Langston Hughes was a poet, novelist, playwright, and columnist who became one of the leaders of the Harlem Renaissance, a movement of the 1920s and ’30s that focused on the intellectual and cultural revival of African American artistry, encompassing everything from literature to dance to fashion. Artistically, Hughes was perhaps best known as an early innovator of jazz poetry, of which he published several collections. This quote comes from one such poem, entitled “Dreams.” As a social activist, Hughes wrote an influential weekly column for “The Chicago Defender,” one of the leading Black newspapers at the time. In 1926, he penned “The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain,” a landmark essay that became something of a manifesto for the Harlem Renaissance. In it, he identified the movement’s goals and dreams, writing, “We build our temples for tomorrow, strong as we know how, and we stand on top of the mountain, free within ourselves.”
13 Quotes To Challenge You To Rethink Your Preconceived Notions
13 Romantic Quotes From Beloved Period Pieces
11 Quotes From the Biggest Movies of 2023
14 Beautifully Poetic Quotes From William Blake
12 Quotes About Making Big Changes Later in Life
Unconventional Aging Advice From 10 Centenarians
Hilariously Relatable Quotes About Birthdays
12 Quotes on What Makes a Society Strong
13 Franklin Delano Roosevelt Quotes You’ve Never Heard Before
11 Quotes To Help a Friend Through a Tough Time
15 Quotes To Help You Feel Brave