Langston Hughes was famous for being a leading poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist who played a central role in the Harlem Renaissance. He was renowned for his poetry that portrayed the joys and hardships of working-class African Americans with honesty, often incorporating the rhythms of jazz and blues. His works, including notable poems like "The Weary Blues," "I, Too," and "Harlem," gave voice to the African American experience and contributed significantly to American literature and civil rights consciousness. Hughes also wrote novels, short stories, plays, and essays, and his literary career had a lasting influence on both the Harlem Renaissance and later generations of writers. He is remembered for his commitment to expressing Black identity with pride and without fear or shame.