Which Harlem Renaissance poet wrote with jazz-infused rhythm about urban African American life?

• A. Jean Toomer
• B. Langston Hughes
• C. Claude McKay
• D. Zora Neale Hurston

Answer: (B)

Recognize this as a question about a poet whose verse uses music-like rhythm to capture urban Black life. Langston Hughes stands out for poems that move with musical cadences—bluesy, improvisational lines that mirror the soundscape of Harlem and the everyday experiences of African Americans in the city. His work centers on urban life, work, dreams, and resilience, often with a rhythmic pulse that evokes jazz and street music of the era. The other writers bring different emphases: Cane blends rural and urban forms in an experimental style; Claude McKay’s poetry is strong on protest and a broader cosmopolitan energy; Zora Neale Hurston focuses on cultural portrayal and vernacular storytelling rather than a jazz-infused urban poetic voice.