“Let America be America again.
Let it be the dream it used to be.
Let it be the pioneer on the plain
Seeking a home where he himself is free.

(America never was America to me.)

Let America be the dream the dreamers dreamed—
Let it be that great strong land of love
Where never kings connive nor tyrants scheme
That any man be crushed by one above.

(It never was America to me.) “

excerpt from “Let America Be America Again” by Langston Hughes

Today, on this 1st day of Black History Month, we honor and celebrate the birthday of our namesake, Langston Hughes (2/1/1902 – 5/22/1967.)   Langston Hughes worked as a busboy at the Wardman Park Hotel (DC) in the 1920s, prior to gaining recognition as a poet. 


The great American writer wrote more than 60 books, including poems, novels, short stories, plays, children’s poetry, autobiographies, musicals, and operas. Order your copies of Langston Hughes’ works: https://linktr.ee/busboysandpoets

EVENTS


KaNikki Langston

Monday, February 1, 2021 @ 8 PM – 10 PM

Join us for a birthday tribute & open mic on Instagram Live, hosted by the 1st Black Poet Laureate of Alexandria, KaNikki Jakarta. 

Join us for a birthday tribute & open mic on Instagram Live, hosted by the 1st Black Poet Laureate of Alexandria, KaNikki Jakarta.

Bring your favorite Langston Hughes poem to share during the open mic!

instagram.com/busboysandpoets


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Wednesday, February 3, 2021 @ 4 PM – 9 PM

Meet us on the rink for an in-person celebration “Poetry on Ice” featuring poetry, music, a pop-up bookstore, food, drinks and ice skating at the site of our forthcoming location in Columbia, MD.

Another treat? Skating admission is just $7!


DRINKS

WearyBlues Drink

Birthday CHEERS to Langston Hughes with our specialty cocktail, The Weary Blues.

  • Bourbon blend
  • lemon juice
  • honey syrup
  • muddled blueberries

available in single, double, and 33 oz servings order.busboysandpoets.com


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For Langston Hughes on His 123 Birthday

Speech given on February 1, 2024 in Havana, Cuba In 1927 Langston Hughes walked into a Cuba amid an emerging community of artists, intellectuals, and radicals.  He saw a “sunrise in a new land [– a day – in his words]sic – full of brownskin surprises, and hitherto unknown contacts in a world of color.”  … Continued

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Palestine Week 2024

January 18, 2024 – January 25, 2024 In keeping with our ongoing mission of uplifting racial and cultural connections, Busboys and Poets is hosting Palestine Week (January 18 through January 25, 2024). This week-long series of events will offer a diverse range of programming featuring Palestinian food, music, dance, poetry, discussions, and other enriching events. … Continued

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Alice Walker in Conversation with Andy Shallal at National Museum of African American History and Culture

When: Tuesday, October 16, 2018, 7-9pm Details: Busboys and Poets and The National Museum of African American History and Culture present an evening with renowned author, Alice Walker.  An internationally celebrated writer, poet and activist whose works include short fiction, children’s books, volumes of essays and novels, among them The Color Purple for which she … Continued

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#PaintTheStorefronts

These are trying times for people and local, small businesses across the globe. Instead of boarding up our windows after an unfortunate act of vandalism, we’ve responded by spreading messages of optimism and hope by hiring local artists to #PaintTheStorefronts. All of our seven locations are painted, and we are spreading the movement; already we’ve … Continued

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DC VegFest Media Party at Takoma

We kicked off another year of DC VegFest by hosting the media party in the Guillén Room at Takoma to about 60 local and national influencers. For the last four years we’ve sponsored DC VegFest and have provided an overflowing buffet of various vegan foods from our catering and regular menu, like vegan “beef” sliders, … Continued