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.
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.
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