Born on February 1, 1902, in Joplin, Missouri, James Langston Hughes began writing poetry in the eighth grade. Driven by a father who felt a man could not make a living as a writer, Hughes began attending Columbia University to study engineering but soon dropped out of the program, all the while continuing to write his poetry.

Hughes enjoyed spending time in night clubs where he listened to blues and jazz while writing. he has been at times hailed, at other times panned, for his straightforward and rhythmic approach to poetry. Hughes coined the name Jesse B. Simple to refer to his style, in essence, just be simple and tell it like it is.

Supporters of Hughes work insisted that his writing demonstrated that poetry need not be complex to be great. His many metaphors on the life of the black people can be found throughout his work, each dealing with poverty and racism with humor, honesty and determination. Hughes was a prolific writer, authoring sixteen volumes of poems, two novels, three collections of short stories, twenty plays, and literally dozens and dozens of magazine articles, television and radio scripts.

One of Hughes' classics that demonstrates his use of metaphor and simple language is Mother to Son:

Well, son, I'll tell you:
Life for me ain't been no crystal stair.
It's had tacks in it,
And splinters,
And boards torn up,
And places with no carpet on the floor--
Bare.
But all the time
I'se been a-climbin' on,
And reachin' landin's,
And turnin' corners,
And sometimes goin' in the dark
Where there ain't been no light.
So, boy, don't you turn back.
Don't you set down on the steps.
'Cause you finds it's kinder hard.
Don't you fall now
For I'se still goin', honey,
I'se still climbin',
And life for me ain't been no crystal stair.