“‘Joyce, I wish you would let me plan them interracial seminaries next time. After the music, let the speechmaking roll for a while—with maybe a calypso between speeches. Then, along about five o’clock, bring on the jam session, extra-special. Start serving tea to “Tea For Two,” played real cool. Whilst drinking tea and dancing, the race relationers could relate, the integraters could integrate, and the desegregators desegregate. Joyce, you would not have to beg for a crowd to come out and support your efforts then. Jam—and the hall would be jammed! Even I would stick around, and not be outside sneaking a smoke, or trying to figure how I can get to the bar before the resolutions are voted on. Resolved: that we solve the race problem! Strike up the band! Hit it, men! Aw, play that thing! “How High the Moon!” How high! Wheee-ee-e!’”

“What did Joyce say to that?” I demanded.

“Joyce just thought I was high,” said Simple.

About the Author

About the Author

Langston Hughes (1902-67) was born in Joplin, Missouri, was educated at Lincoln University, and lived for most of his life in New York City. He is best known as a poet, but he also wrote novels, biography, history, plays, and children’s books. Among his works are two volumes of memoirs, The Big Sea and I Wonder as I Wander, and two collections of Simple stories, The Best of Simple and The Return of Simple. You can sign up for email updates here.

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