Who was the leader of the Harlem Renaissance, celebrated for his poetry?

Langston Hughes is celebrated as a leading figure of the Harlem Renaissance, particularly known for his profound and influential poetry. His works captured the experiences and struggles of African Americans during the early 20th century, often incorporating elements of jazz and blues, which gave his poetry a unique rhythm and voice. Hughes’s themes frequently revolved around the celebration of black culture, identity, and the fight against racial oppression, which resonated deeply with the spirit of the Harlem Renaissance—an artistic and cultural revival centered in Harlem during the 1920s.

Hughes's ability to convey complex emotions and social issues through accessible language made his poetry widely admired and impactful. His most famous works, such as "The Negro Speaks of Rivers" and "I, Too," serve as cornerstone examples of the era’s literature, emphasizing pride and resilience in the face of adversity. While other figures, such as Claude McKay and Zora Neale Hurston, significantly contributed to the Harlem Renaissance through their own writings and artistic expressions, Hughes's role as a poet and a voice for the movement solidifies his status as its leading figure.