James Mercer Langston Hughes was born February 1, 1901 in Joplin, Missouri. He died May 22, 1967. He was an American poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist. He was known as one of the earliest innovators of the literary form called jazz poetry, However, Hughes is best known as a leader of the Harlem renaissance period. Hughes grew up in a series of mid western towns, and became a prolific writer at an early age. He moved to New York City as a young person, where he made his career. He graduated from high school in Cleveland, Ohio and soon began studies at Columbia University in New York. Although he dropped out, he gained notice from New York publishers. When he eventually graduated from Lincoln University, he already had books published and wrote for The Crisis magazine. In addition to poetry, Langston Hughes wrote essays and short stories. He also published several nonfiction works. From 1942 to 1962 as the US civil rights movement was gaining traction, he wrote a weekly column in a leading black newspaper, The Chicago Defender.