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40th out of 404 books
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464 voters
The Ways of White Folks
In these acrid and poignant stories, Hughes depicted black people colliding--sometimes humorously, more often tragically--with whites in the 1920s and '30s.
Paperback, 272 pages
Published
September 12th 1990
by Vintage
(first published 1934)
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This collection of stories explores themes of race and race relations in the early twentieth century. The issues addressed in the collection will ring familiar to people schooled in the racial history of the United States prior to the Civil Rights Era. Consequently, the character types, plots, and outcomes are fairly predictable. Nonetheless, many of the stories are powerful. Undoubtedly, they were even more so when originally published in the 1920s and 1930s. The themes addressed in the stories...more
(FROM JACKET)Perhaps more than any other writer, Langston Hughes made the white America of the 1920s and '30s aware of the black culture thriving in its midst. Like his most famous poems, Hughes's stories are messages from that other America, sharply etched vignettes of its daily life, cruelly accurate portrayals of black people colliding-sometimes humorously, more often tragically-with whites.
Here is the ailing black musician who comes home from Europe to die in his small town-only to die more...more
Here is the ailing black musician who comes home from Europe to die in his small town-only to die more...more
The connecting thread in this collection of stories is the relations between white people and black people in the first half of the 20th century. In my opinion, in these stories, it is impossible for the two sides to come together and have an authentic human connection because of the residue of slavery and the presence of Jim Crow. The resignation of all the characters to the way things are is more true to life than many stories I've read which deal with similar issues (major exception to this i...more
For someone sitting down with, "The Ways of White Folks," for the first time, it is important to note Langston Hughes received his copyright for this collection of short stories in 1933. By now someone might think, "I've read lots of stories like these," or, "I've read books about this," or, "I saw a couple of these things in movies." Langston Hughes was there before all of this. Langston Hughes was near the head of the line. It is possible to imagine the wallop of these writings in America wher...more
This book made me ache inside. Hughes is an excellent writer and his stories are like razor blades that draw fine little lines in your heart. You don't even realize you're bleeding until it's done.
What can you say about Langston Hughes? He isn’t a perfect writer as there is no such thing. A man born after the turn of the 20th century, but knew of the plight of the Negroes (his words not mine). These stories are the culmination of the interaction between whites and Negroes, in the city, on the farm, in richness and poverty. It didn’t matter if the characters were white, black, or mixed – whether they lived together or were strangers, Hughes had a profound gift of cultural syntax. The down...more
This book is a definite must-read. I picked it up because I thought it had a funny name, and the leaps and bounds it took beyond my expectations have made me wonder how it has not won awards and how we are not all expected to read this book in school.
I admit that my common conclusion upon reading a famous author's short stories is: "genius." F. Scott Fitzgerald, Kurt Vonnegut - in many ways their short stories impressed me more than their full-length novels. I don't think I've ever read other La...more
I admit that my common conclusion upon reading a famous author's short stories is: "genius." F. Scott Fitzgerald, Kurt Vonnegut - in many ways their short stories impressed me more than their full-length novels. I don't think I've ever read other La...more
As someone who writes short stories and novellas, I was glad to have finally read Hughes' work. The Ways of White Folks is a product of its time but still a very honest look at the ways blacks and whites collide in the United States. Hughes tells stories from a variety of points of view as well as different literary styles from dialogue to letters. I'm not as familiar with his poetry as I am with his other works, but Hughes' poetry fans are sure to enjoy his full-length stories as well.
Nov 01, 2008
Todd Hoke
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
folks who yammer on about the good old days
A return to Langston Hughes, but a darker tone this time around than the "Simple" stories I read earlier. Here Hughes writes of the toxic racism in America, and does so with uncluttered lyricism. Words that cut and soothe at once.
What were "the roaring 20s" to a Black man in America? Limited access. Averted eyes. Lynchings. Whites only. And on and on. This is the canvas Hughes paints upon.
And this excerpt doesn't have a thing to do with the stuff above, but I marked it in my book because the phr...more
What were "the roaring 20s" to a Black man in America? Limited access. Averted eyes. Lynchings. Whites only. And on and on. This is the canvas Hughes paints upon.
And this excerpt doesn't have a thing to do with the stuff above, but I marked it in my book because the phr...more
Mar 01, 2012
Fernando
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommended to Fernando by:
Amalio Escobar
Shelves:
fiction
A great collection of heartbreaking stories by laureate poet Langston Hughes. "The Ways" is a collection of tales about the struggle, dreams, and (justified) fears of being black in America in the first half of the 20th century. A tiny fraction of the stories seem a bit underdeveloped, but for the most part they are very compelling (some gut-wrenching).
I liked "Home" the most. The last story on the book, "Father and Son" ends the book with a real bang.
I liked "Home" the most. The last story on the book, "Father and Son" ends the book with a real bang.
These 15 short stories from the 1930s illustrate the state of racial relationships and how we are shaped by our fears, assumptions, prejudices and courage. While many stories are disturbing or sad, there are also humorous moments. Interesting to look back on the U.S. 80 years ago to see how far we have come (while realizing how far we have yet to go). Hughes is an amazing writer -- you feel so for the characters.
I read it in a day. Excellent writing. I just have to say it was really depressing, reading about how badly and cruelly black people were treated during Jim Crow in the USA . I kept on thinking how my grandmother, born and raised in the Mississippi had to live this way as a black woman. She is still alive at 82. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in how devastating racism and white supremacy was/is
This is a really interesting collection of short stories that is very reflective of the time that it's written. It's a good collection. I was trolling it to see if I could juxtapose it with some Lillian Smith for my Reading and Writing the Civil Rights Movement course, and there were some workable bits.
I don't generally read American Modernism, but I loved this book. The stories are easy to read, but Hughes packs a lot into their simple language. They're even more interesting if you read them in light of the fact that Hughes was in the Soviet Union when he first started writing this collection.
After reading this brilliant African-American fiction composed of numerous short stories, I was compelled to reflect on a piece of American history that was not honorable, in regards to the morale of a society. I appreciated the blunt honesty that Langston portrayed within his work in the series of short stories. He presented stories that contained content that has been echoed within Black families for decades. I am grateful for the major progress in this country and hope that we continue to mak...more
A collection of stories by one of the Harlem Rennaissance's best. All well written and sometimes painful aspects of them, while some are bitingly funny. Recommend it to anyone who likes his poetry and his 'Semple' stories.
really vivid short stories, I might need an explanation for a couple though. the language was simple but strong and emotional. interesting range of characters, good at portraying the ugly in life masked behind good will.
Though it did give a good look at the ways in which white people treated black people over a period of time, I was hoping more for a concise look at one person, or family, and less for the short stories of several people.
The Way of White Folks by Langston Hughes Entertaining short stories by my favorite poet. What’s not to love? Would like to read again.
I learned that Langston was not too found of them.
Beautifully written short stories that serve a slice of historical perspective to which I don't usually have access. Hughes' language is rich and detailed.
Hughes' depiction of white people is...unfavorable, ranging from condescending rich liberals fixated on the "primitive" expressions of those exotic dark people - to overt discrimination and brutality. Unsurprising, considering the racial climate of America in the 30's...and today. His depiction of black people is appreciative and broad, if a b...more
Hughes' depiction of white people is...unfavorable, ranging from condescending rich liberals fixated on the "primitive" expressions of those exotic dark people - to overt discrimination and brutality. Unsurprising, considering the racial climate of America in the 30's...and today. His depiction of black people is appreciative and broad, if a b...more
There are several passages in this book that highlight Hughes poetic skills, but race relations can be a difficult read. Some of the stories illustrate the cultural changes since the 1920s/30s, but sadly, some do not.
The unpleasant truth about post Civil War, pre WWI, race relations. Filled with now-acknowledged stereotypes, but perhaps eye-opening to readers when published.
Very well written and very honest. A must read for anyone curious as to the nature of white prejudice and how it affects black people negatively on a daily basis.
I read this book for a class a few years ago, and loved the stories as a much more real way of understanding race during the '20s than I would get from a textbook.
Awesome short stories! I had never read any of Hughes' fiction. Cora in Cora Unashamed is one of my favorite characters.
Love this man as a poet but the short stories, while making a point, keep making the same point and have not aged that well.
Very insightful...wondering if it were written today would things be much different. One can only wonder.
A classic read filled with enthralling short stories from a not so flattering time in our US past.
This book is beyond incredible. I've read it three times and plan to read it many more!
This is a great collection of short stories, addressing race in the United States...
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Langston Hughes was an American poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, short story writer, and columnist. He was one of the earliest innovators of the then-new literary art form jazz poetry. Hughes is best known for his work during the Harlem Renaissance. He famously wrote about the period that "Harlem was in vogue."
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“Bow down and pray in fear and trembling, go way back in the dark afraid; or work harder and harder; or stumble and learn; or raise up your fist and strike-but once the idea comes into your head you’ll never be the same again. Oh, test tube of life! Crucible of the South, find the right powder and you’ll never be the same again-the cotton will blaze and the cabins will burn and the chains will be broken and men, all of a sudden, will shakes hands, black men and white men, like steel meeting steel!”
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