Langston Hughes reads The Negro Speaks of Rivers

[@rwm1885]

My soul has grown deep like the rivers ❤❤❤wow. Sometimes I think about rivers and I think how they've witnessed it all. The same river bed my ancestors my ancestors stepped in when young and wanted a swim, is the same riverbed that was there before they were born, is the same river bed that will be there for my great grandkids. Rivers have borne silent witness to the start of slavery, the same water from the rains, down the mountains into the rivers, into the oceans, the oceans that carried slaves on ships; they've borne witness to colonialism and the fight for freedom, the same rivers the ancestors had to shower in as they survived fighting for freedom in the forests; the same rivers slaves were baptized in and from which sprung soul giving negro spirituals; the same rivers that helped the slaves escape by cutting off the scent-tracing dogs set upon them by the "massas". Indeed, the story of black people cannot be told without being mentioned in the same breadth with rivers. The Rivers, the silent witness , cheerleader and sometimes grave to the trials and triumphs of the negro. ❤ Thank you for posting this poem.

[@therealzilch]

What a treasure, that we have Langston Hughes' own voice still.

[@depreepounds4419]

I was just thinking this. I am so glad my children will be able to hear his poetry in his own voice. ❤

[@anacontreras4632]

I AGREE with you

[@ihateemoss]

yasssss

[@beankobe8205]

Well spoken too the old movies always made us seem so uneducated ,look how smart he sounds when he is not reading a racist script .💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾hate he they would make us look

[@jochanaan58]

When he speaks he sounds very ordinary, but when he recites he becomes the great poet. Magnificent!

[@kueen7538]

I read this poem for the first time in 3rd grade. And I instantly feel in love with it. A very short poem; however, those few lines filled my heart with the richness and greatness of my people!

[@francoisbessing]

What a beautiful man with beautiful words.

[@kellycroley6086]

This is the poem. That poem. The poem that got me to respect all poetry and literature but especially Langston Hughes. Amazing man.

[@Ray_Davis15]

Reading this poem as a child, I never thought that it would be the dawn of defining my writing.

[@awogbade6002]

Mine too

[@liorambruster4033]

really?? wow! i am sharing this poem with my 5th graders. i would love to hear more about this if you see this & Can share.

[@hollyavillella554]

Thanks so much for sharing this original recording of Langston Hughes, himself! I love the detail of his watching out the train window and writing on the back of a letter. His short story "One Christmas Eve" is one of my three favorites: A Christmas Carol ~ Charles Dickens, The Homecoming ~ Earl Hamner, One Christmas Eve ~ Langston Hughes, The Gift of the Magi ~ O. Henry. ❤️✨🎄

[@johnatella8498]

Just listening to him has given me new insights into this wonderful poem. To think, he wrote this just out of high school. Amazing.

[@brunapixie5969]

He was a genius, so young and so wise. If he wrote only this poem in his life it would be perfect.

[@francoisbessing]

Indeed.

[@geraldjohnson848]

Feb.1: Happy birthday Poet-author Langston Hughes; Harlem Renaissance (1902-1967) Thank you and God bless. Thanks for the upload, Robert Ricardo Reese. Blessings

[@ravinderp7658]

Its really fortunate thing listening Langton hues own voice.

[@HasanAbdullaHM6]

This is magnificent, awesome. Langston Hughes is my all time favourite poet, over and above Keats! It is so exciting to hear the man himself recite his most famous poem. A fascinating and informative introduction as well. Again, a magnificent recording, one that stands out above so many.❤

[@ravinderp7658]

The way he reads The Negro speaks of river marvelous, the intensity in delivery could understand his agony and Ado he had💯💯

[@ladanodion2826]

I love this poem, brings back amazing memories from secondary school. Sitting in Literature class, my teacher reading this out. It went from just Literature to history in seconds, but this poem, it's just, honestly I love it.

[@grover9187]

Same. I heard this poem in class too. It moved me then, and still.

[@grover9187]

One of my favorites.

[@kueen7538]

Mine too!

[@enchantresse23]

My soul has grown deep like the rivers 😩

[@terrormothbear314]

1:40 when he starts reading the poem

[@acccc-5476]

thx

[@cficarra]

But his introduction is not to be missed. He explains his whole reason for writing the poem.

[@rievans57]

Stunning, even today!

[@claudiasiefer8495]

ESPECIALLY today. xx

[@sandyfeet9502]

So beautiful and HISTORICAL..Today we do not want to share history but destroy it...Mr. Hughes understood that history is/was extremely important. Learn from it so we may do better in the future....

[@robinrobertson8690]

Beautiful poem🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽❤️❤️😇

[@TheDrRogers]

Learning more about the influence of Langston Hughes on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Hughes time in Paris sparked transcontinental beauty in Music, Literature and Art. Jessie B Simple provides insight into Harlem, and Harlem's everyday folk life. Lastly, a quote from I've Known Rivers adorn the entrance to the Schomburg Library in NY.

[@ultimumuzumaki4635]

Love you on the real ❤😍 Never give up and beee u to the fullest

[@blaquefaerie8201]

I adore this man

[@rileysmiley9585]

Me too

[@katmcake]

thank you for citing the original recording! this is great.

[@benjaminlevin5446]

This clip is a literal national treasure. Is it saved in the Library of Congress, hopefully?

[@richardnotman787]

One of my absolute favorites. This is wonderful.

[@adam.muzzik]

Thanks for posting!!!!

[@phyllisverges3549]

I love this💜

[@yessumify]

One of my favorites ❤

[@MeredithCMcGeeAUTHOR]

So happy to run across this reading. Awesome.

[@salvadortorres6680]

I hope this generation get to understand what this means bkas it is something they will never go through in life or any other life

[@rileysmiley9585]

This is what dreams are made of!😌📚😍

[@Nonnabella826]

Langston Hughes wrote one of favorite novels. Although it was fiction, it was based on real life in Chicago. The novel is “Knock On Any Door.” It was also made into a movie starring John Derek.

[@robertbelcher1260]

Much respect

[@paragon7atl]

This is like a story of our DNA. E1b1a came from near the Euphrates and ended up here. This touches the soul.

[@sherlinda2396]

this is great for students, thank you!!

[@MissLionRose]

Wow!

[@TeKeyaKrystal]

Oh! Steph's video brought me here

[@sarahm4443]

"My soul has grown deep like the rivers"

[@Bixiebix]

beautiful

[@youngbourbon]

True.

[@saratogaswimclub3513]

Hi, can you tell me the source of the interview with Langston Hughes? I would like to reference it in my paper. Thank you

[@belindadixon9755]

Saratoga Swim Club Q

[@twilliams385]

Great short poems edited by Paul Negri book

[@beankobe8205]

Well spoken too the old movies always made us seem so uneducated ,look how smart he sounds when he is not reading a racist script .💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾hate he they would make us look

[@WhiteCamry]

When did Hughes record this?

[@MichxelBrxndo]

Can anyone tell me the Imagery/Symbolism in this poem?

[@francoisbessing]

The rivers are ancient. They were here before us and they will outlive us all. They have seen much. As we get older we will see many things. Our souls will change. They will be altered by what we see. They will become as powerful, thoughtful yet silent... As the rivers.

[@ladavis2670]

Hey there, fellow TPSer! What are you doing in the comments section?

[@ubaxahmed1867]

is good

[@stinaojeda5268]

Wow. This is such a gem.

[@popeyechurro]

Yay

[@popeyechurro]

+WhatDilPhan hi

[@maxbiller7864]

+WhatDilPhan supercalifragilisticexpialidocious

[@popeyechurro]

+ash emerald much long such word (⊙︿⊙✿)

[@Sam-bp6vw]

do we know what year is the recording?

[@Christian-vq8sx]

i think 1959

[@ultimumuzumaki4635]

Support the young who knows the old and who Will respect what they live on 1000% coo doe's 😂 (fu yeaaahhhh))))

[@bellaf7774]

He and Maya Angelou pronounce "poem" the same😊

[@dohadena]

1:42

[@SillyGirl26]

WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

[@ultimumuzumaki4635]

Fuckkkkk yeahhhhhhhhhhh

[@LloydMajor]

Real cool!

[@TheGenreman]

Gary Bartz brought me here

[@mimir1982]

29 klan members disliked this poem

[@jaylenwright799]

jk its good'\

[@sc2aidan-bk5pl]

I speak rivers 🤑🤑🤑😫😫😫👶👶🦫🦫🙈🦧🦧🦧🦧👨🏿‍❤️‍💋‍👨🏿👨🏿‍❤️‍💋‍👨🏿👨🏿‍❤️‍💋‍👨🏿

[@sc2aidan-bk5pl]

Yes

[@adrian6187]

HI MR COATOAM.

[@gillianwhite7910]

what year is this, please? thanks for posting.

[@akarimatsubara8202]

1959

[@gnikcohs]

ancient dusty rivers.

[@BodyRibbonz]

*dusky

[@yohanngouin6054]

gnikcohs dusky

[@2MSHILL]

Langsot hughes

[@thomasgibbons249]

Um, May I have your croissant?

[@yohanngouin6054]

Thomas Gibbons yeah bro have the whole thing 🥐

[@ultimumuzumaki4635]

At the end of the day you are who??? That matter's

[@TreeBug88]

Why was Lincoln so surprised there was slavery up north too I just don't get it

[@ultimumuzumaki4635]

Fuckkkkk yeahhhhhhhhhhh

[@wwood-ct7yn]

0:03

[@ultimumuzumaki4635]

Fuckkkkk yeahhhhhhhhhhh

[@liasharee]

1:40

[@ultimumuzumaki4635]

Fuckkkkk yeahhhhhhhhhhh

[@ultimumuzumaki4635]

Fuckkkkk yeahhhhhhhhhhh