Black Nativity in Rotterdam (1962) / <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Negro_Musical_Black_Nativity_in_Rotterdam,_Bestanddeelnr_914-5424.jpg">Eric Koch for Anefo</a>, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
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On Dec. 11, 1961, Langston Hughes’ musical play Black Nativity, a retelling of the Christmas story, premiered on Broadway. Featuring traditional carols infused with gospel stylings and original compositions, it was among the first plays by an African-American writer to be performed on Broadway.
Born in 1902, Hughes was a celebrated poet, playwright, novelist, and social activist whose legacy as a cultural leader continues to resonate. He passed away in 1967, but his work endures.
This March 26, 1953, file photo shows poet and author Langston Hughes speaking before the House Un-American Activities Committee in Washington, D.C. Washburn University professor Eric McHenry says he unearthed evidence that Hughes was actually born a year earlier that what’s on record. Hughes is commonly thought to have been born in 1902, spending his childhood in Topeka and Lawrence. (AP Photo/file)
In 2013, Black Nativity was adapted into a film directed by Kasi Lemmons. The movie featured a star-studded cast including Forest Whitaker, Angela Bassett, Tyrese Gibson, Jennifer Hudson, Mary J. Blige, Nas, and Vondie Curtis-Hall, introducing Hughes’ timeless vision to a new generation.
Clay Cane is an award-winning journalist, writer, radio host, and political commentator. A graduate of Rutgers University with a degree in African-American Studies, his work on race, culture, and politics have appeared in national publications, including the Washington Post, CNN, and The Grio. Clay is a regular political commentator on MSNBC.
