He wrote about the beauty of his people. He wished others could see blacks as beautiful. He wanted an America that was " color-blind ". He wished that people would not see differences in skin color.
Hughes did not only write about these things. He worked hard to change things for blacks. He joined the NAACP and other groups that fought for equal rights.
Hughes wrote novels. Some were made into plays. He also wrote essays and books about his life. He won awards for his writing.