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Kalamu ya Salaam's information blog

My man be my patron saint. Even though I am not religious, have not been to church for years, for decades. More than half a century back.

Even that long ago, I had sense enough to comprehend that Langston Hughes was somebody I needed to know. To read. To study. To constantly return to. For information. Inspiration.

My little sister Chelsey–she who came down to us from upper midwest climes and is now my lead editor at the University of New Orleans (UNO) press. She and I had a long conversation while sitting on a campus green space at the school. We spoke of many things but chief among them was a man I consider the master blaster of 20th century letters. Letters, as in literature, both literally and figuratively.

I know there are many other important writers. For example, just on a poetry tip, at one point I deeply dug Carl Sandburg and used to devour e. e. cummings. But none of them stuck with me as long, as strong, as did Mr. Hughes.

Here are video excerpts. Chelsey and I ensconced on folding chairs holding forth on a little bit of this and a little bit of that, all revolving around Langston.

Enjoy.

I certainly did–notice that you can sense me sometimes searching for the words to say how much I love and revere Langston Hughes.

Here we even present two short segments (video one and video two) of Chelsey and Kalamu conversating, as well as a TV tape of Langston reading his work, plus an innovative illustration of my words as conceived by brilliant cinema photographer Weenta Girmay, who shot Chelsey and me; Chelsey being her studious self and me pretending like I know something worth repeating.

I close as I used to sign many of my letters to friends,

Peace and Liberation
K.