Celebrating Black History Month: A Visit with Langston Hughes

In celebration of Black History Month, the Atlantic City Free Public Library will host a virtual program - A Visit with Langston Hughes - on Wednesday, Feb. 10, via Zoom. Actor and historian Keith Henley from American Historical Theatre will portray Hughes.

The program is free. Registration is required. Register online or by calling (609) 345-2269, ext. 3075.

Hughes was a poet who utilized the American language, music, slang and religious views to educate the world about African American lifestyles during the Harlem Renaissance. His jazz poetry depicted the "low-life", or the real-life experiences of Blacks in the lower social-economic strata. His criticisms focused on the divisions, and prejudices, based on skin color within the black community.

Henley’s portrayal deals with the issue of how to be oneself, and encourages all to join in the knowledge that “I too have a song to sing” and to ask the question “why not me?”

Henley began his historic interpretation career with Historic Philadelphia Inc. and has since worked for American Historical Theatre and History First Hand, and has performed for the Smithsonian Associates Teaching American History program, Historic Germantown, the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia as well as local libraries.