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How did Langston Hughes describe the goals of younger Black artists in “The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain”?

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The Weary Blues cover — Harlem Renaissance Dust jacket designed by the Mexican illustrator and writer Miguel Covarrubias for Langston Hughes's *The Weary Blues* (1926), a book of experimental poetry.

In his 1926 manifesto, "The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain," Langston Hughes articulated a bold vision for the younger generation of Black artists during the Harlem Renaissance. He declared their intention to express their "individual dark-skinned selves" with complete confidence, free from fear or shame.12

Hughes emphasized that the primary goal was artistic authenticity rather than seeking validation from others. He stated that while they would be pleased if white or Black audiences appreciated their work, the approval of either group was ultimately irrelevant to their creative mission. By embracing both the beauty and the perceived "ugliness" of their own experiences, these artists sought to create a uniquely Black literature that remained true to their own cultural identity.12