Works Cited

Langston Hughes
New York
April 15 2012

Dear Mr. Hughes:

I am writing this letter in order to express to you my feelings and reactionsafter reading “The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain”. It is hard to believe and understand that only a few decades ago, life was tremendouslychallenging for African American artists. Nowadays, there are many prominent black singers, painters, and writers whose work I enjoy completely.While I am not African American myself, I thoroughly enjoyed reading your essay because it helped me see the past of the African American communitymore clearly. The fact that we are still reading and analyzing this essay today proves how influential and important the message is. I think that itis absurd to judge a work of art solely on the skin color of the artist. I also think you did an excellent job addressing the metaphorical“mountain” that a Negro artist must face. In order to create true and beautiful art, the artist must be in touch with their roots, and emit strongself-confidence. I was moved by each passage, but at the same time happy to see how much things truly have changed. As time goes by, I believe now thatconditions will continue to get better for all social classes, and we will all be one happy community in the end. I eagerly look forward to readingmore of your work, and I truly think you were a large inspiration for African Americans in the twentieth century.

Sincerely, Nathan Hokenson