Finding Langston

Langston, the novel’s narrator, is 11 years old in 1946. He recently moved from rural Alabama to Chicago with his father, following the death of his mother. When the novel begins, Langston is suffering from grief and loneliness but conceals his feelings from everyone, including his stoic father Henry. The bustle of urban life often distresses Langston and intensifies his longing for the quiet South, where he lived on a small farm with his parents and grandmother. Langston had a handful of friends in Alabama but has none at his new school and is even the target of a few bullies who call him “country boy.” Knowing his father would advise him to “turn the other cheek” (53), Langston passively endures the taunts and harassment he receives from his cruel classmate Lymon and Lymon’s cohorts, Erroll and Clem.

Conveying his reflective, sensitive nature, Langston’s narrative voice often dwells on his memories, feelings, and perceptions of others. With his “thick arms and middle” (25), Langston strongly resembles his father, but his inner self seems very different. Where Henry emphasizes the value of traditionally masculine pursuits, such as physical activity and being outdoors, Langston much prefers “[s]itting in the house reading” (20).