Not Without Laughter is a novel written by Langston Hughes

Langston Hughes

James Mercer Langston Hughes was an American poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist. He was one of the earliest innovators of the then-new literary art form jazz poetry. Hughes is best known for his work during the Harlem Renaissance...

 and published in 1930

1930 in literature

The year 1930 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:*January 6 - The first literary character licensing agreement is signed by A. A. Milne, granting Stephen Slesinger U.S...

. It is Hughes' first novel, and first major work of prose.

Plot introduction

Not Without Laughter portrays African American

African American

African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...

 life in the 1910s, focusing on character development rather than plot.
However, The main storyline focuses on Sandy's "awakening to the sad and the beautiful realities of black life in a small Kansas town." The major intent of the novel is to portray Sandy's life as he tries to be the best he can be, aspiring to folks like W. E. B. Du Bois and Booker T. Washington

Booker T. Washington

Booker Taliaferro Washington was an American educator, author, orator, and political leader. He was the dominant figure in the African-American community in the United States from 1890 to 1915...

.

Characters in Not Without Laughter

• Sandy Rogers – the main character in the novel, and protagonist
• Jimboy – Sandy's father, generally portrayed as irresponsible
• Annjee Williams – Sandy's mother
• Aunt Hager Williams – Annjee's mother and Sandy's grandmother, a conservative Baptist
• Tempy Siles/Williams – Annjee's rich sister
• Mr. Siles – a rich man who marries Tempy
• Harriett Williams – sister of Annjee; blues singer
• Willie-Mae – friend of Sandy

Background

Hughes has said that the novel is semi-autobiographical, and that a good portion of the characters and setting included in the book are based on his memories of growing up in Lawrence, Kansas

Lawrence, Kansas

Lawrence is the sixth largest city in the U.S. State of Kansas and the county seat of Douglas County. Located in northeastern Kansas, Lawrence is the anchor city of the Lawrence, Kansas, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Douglas County...

. Hughes has said about Not Without Laugher:
I wanted to write about a typical Negro family in the Middle West, about people like those I had known in Kansas. But mine was not a typical Negro family.