* Pen and Paper: This was the most common way for Hughes to write, as it was for most poets of his era.
* Typewriter: Hughes also used a typewriter, especially as his writing became more prolific.
* Notebook: He kept notebooks to jot down ideas, observations, and lines of poetry.
However, what set Hughes apart was his voice and his themes:
* His voice: Hughes wrote in a unique style that was accessible, rhythmic, and often infused with jazz music. He captured the everyday experiences of Black Americans, using vernacular language and vivid imagery.
* His themes: He explored themes of racial identity, social injustice, the African diaspora, the Harlem Renaissance, and the search for self-definition.
So, while he used the same basic tools as other poets, Langston Hughes's poetry was shaped by his exceptional talent, his lived experiences, and his commitment to using his art to advocate for social change.