Langston Hughes’ ‘Black Nativity’ is still a pillar of African American theater

By Dominic Taylor, University of California, Los Angeles During the end of every calendar year, a particular holiday performance pops up in African American communities and cultural centers across the nation. “Black Nativity” is a cherished cultural tradition to some and completely unknown to others. One wonderful yet confounding thing about this show is that depending on where you see it, you will see significantly different productions – from Intiman Theatre in Seattle to Penumbra Theatre in St. Paul or the National Center of Afro-American Artists in Boston. This might seem counterintuitive, but it is exactly what was intended by the author: Langston Hughes. The poet’s Christmas play was first produced in 1961. Charles A. Smith/Jackson State University/Historically Black Colleges & Universities via Getty Images 1 artist, 2 movements Hughes, a noted although still underappreciated writer, is often associated with the Harlem Renaissance just after World War I, which spurred the growth of jazz. This era – when he penned some of his most famous poems, such as “The Negro Speaks of Rivers” – was the first African American arts movement since Emancipation. But Hughes is one of a handful of artists whose work spanned both the Harlem Renaissance and...