Langston Hughes’ Complex Relationship with Religion

An Opiate, an Obstacle, and a Steroid:

Langston Hughes’ Complex Relationship with Religion

What Michelangelo was to the European Renaissance of the 15th and 16th centuries, Langston Hughes was to the much briefer American cultural explosion of 1920’s and 30’s known as the Harlem Renaissance. Both men stood out during periods of uncanny artistic achievements as better than the best of their peers, and neither period can discussed without mentioning their respective names. A true renaissance man, Hughes was a master of every literary genre, being an excellent poet, playwright, novelist, and short story writer. Throughout his prolific career, Hughes dealt with many topics, infusing his works with messages about social, political, and religious issues. Though often reluctant to discuss his personal views, especially about such touchy subjects as religion and politics, he instead wrote about how these issues affected all black Americans. Many considered Hughes an atheist, a supposition that he did not deny. Despite his seeming lack of belief, Hughes was not adverse to religion, but his opinions on this multifaceted topic were far from straight forward. Hughes’ complex stance is revealed through his works, like his short story “On the Road” where he shows religion as both an obstacle to black advancement in America as well as a valuable tool to wield against oppression. He knew that a personal relationship with God can be a source of hope and strength, but was also quick to remind that prayer alone is far from enough to influence any real change. Hughes loved the unique culture that typified the black church in America, but admonished those men of the cloth willing to manipulate religious teachings for personal profit, a criticism he voices in his poem “Goodbye, Christ.” When considered collectively, Hughes’ works dealing with religion reveal the nuanced and informed opinions of a learned man who loved his race....