--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I didn't know who Langston Hughes was…" description: "\"I didn't know who Langston Hughes was till he met me backstage.\" — Ben Vereen" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49a/ben-vereen-23858_backstage_i-didn-t-know-who-langston-hughes-was-ti_1202276.png" --- # I didn't know who Langston Hughes was till he met me… ![“I didn't know who Langston Hughes was till he met me backstage.” quote by Ben Vereen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49a/ben-vereen-23858_backstage_i-didn-t-know-who-langston-hughes-was-ti_1202276.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49a/ben-vereen-23858_backstage_i-didn-t-know-who-langston-hughes-was-ti_1202276.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49a/ben-vereen-23858_backstage_i-didn-t-know-who-langston-hughes-was-ti_1202276.png) > “I didn't know who Langston Hughes was till he met me backstage.” [Ben Vereen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-vereen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Personal encounters can reveal unexpected connections, highlighting the importance of openness to new relationships. **In simple terms:** Meet people, discover hidden links. Key Takeaway Stay open to unexpected encounters. Themes networking discovery humility Mood curious optimistic Type social inspirational When to use this quote - industry events - backstage meetings - community gatherings - collaborative projects Key Concepts social dynamics cultural exchange Questions to Reflect On - Who have you met unexpectedly? - How can you foster genuine connections? A Different Perspective Not all meetings lead to meaningful outcomes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Backstage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/backstage/) [Didn Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/didn-know-238199/) [Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hughes/) [Langston Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/langston-hughes/) [Met Backstage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/met-backstage-3610781/) [Mets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mets/) ## Related quotes > [If I had to name one book that has had the most lasting influence on my work, I would pick 'The Big Sea' by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-cleage/if-i-had-to-name-one-book-that-has-had-the-most-lasting-influence-on/) [Pearl Cleage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-cleage/) > [I wanted to be Langston Hughes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-reynolds/i-wanted-to-be-langston-hughes/) [Jason Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-reynolds/) > [I booked my first studio at like 12 or 13. Somewhere in that season of my life, singing along with the radio became me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-ocean/i-booked-my-first-studio-at-like-12-or-13-somewhere-in-that-season-of/) [Frank Ocean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-ocean/) > [I don't think anyone in the WWE really knew that I did parkour. I mean, some of the guys have seen me doing it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-morrison/i-don-t-think-anyone-in-the-wwe-really-knew-that-i-did-parkour-i-mean/) [John Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-morrison/) > [I wanted to pay homage to someone who was such an important literary figure in my life. I think Langston Hughes would be proud…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kasi-lemmons/i-wanted-to-pay-homage-to-someone-who-was-such-an-important-literary/) [Kasi Lemmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kasi-lemmons/) > [“I am that rose that grew from concrete, I am the ENTIRE mother to son Langston Hughes poem. And I'm still climbing...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaha-knight/i-am-that-rose-that-grew-from-concrete-i-am-the-entire-mother-to-son/) [Jaha Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaha-knight/) > [Black Nativity certainly lends itself to reinterpretation. It was kind of designed to be infused with the creativity of whoever is putting it on,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kasi-lemmons/black-nativity-certainly-lends-itself-to-reinterpretation-it-was-kind/) [Kasi Lemmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kasi-lemmons/) > [If you're going to get up to Walt Whitman and Robert Frost and Langston Hughes and Sylvia Plath you've got to figure out how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hass/if-you-re-going-to-get-up-to-walt-whitman-and-robert-frost-and/) [Robert Hass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hass/) > [I would love to do an anthology show based on the character of Jesse B. Semple that Langston Hughes wrote about. He's sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-pierce/i-would-love-to-do-an-anthology-show-based-on-the-character-of-jesse/) [Wendell Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-pierce/) > [“if you’re going to use the word ‘dream’ in a poem, you had better be langston hughes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jewelle-gomez/if-you-re-going-to-use-the-word-dream-in-a-poem-you-had-better-be/) [Jewelle Gomez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jewelle-gomez/) > [We expect kids to go straight from Shel Silverstein to William Shakespeare. There needs to be a bridge of relatable, fun, rhythmic verse that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kwame-alexander/we-expect-kids-to-go-straight-from-shel-silverstein-to-william/) [Kwame Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kwame-alexander/) > [When I first knew that I wanted to rap I was seven years old and I lost the talent show. It was like spoken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rico-nasty/when-i-first-knew-that-i-wanted-to-rap-i-was-seven-years-old-and-i/) [Rico Nasty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rico-nasty/) > [Our expanding ethnic diversity of this century, a time when we will all be minorities, offers us an invitation to create a larger memory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-takaki/our-expanding-ethnic-diversity-of-this-century-a-time-when-we-will/) [Ronald Takaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-takaki/) > [ \[ Mrs. James, my fifth-grade teacher\] introduced us to these authors early on and taught us that their literature is important. Langston Hughes -… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/mrs-james-my-fifth-grade-teacher-introduced-us-to-these-authors-early/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [Suicide Note: The calm, Cool face of the river Asked me for a kiss. -Langston Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-redfield-jamison/suicide-note-the-calm-cool-face-of-the-river-asked-me-for-a-kiss/) [Kay Redfield Jamison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-redfield-jamison/) ## More by Ben Vereen > [People talk about love and it seems like a cliche but it's a real thing - the more love we spread around the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-vereen/people-talk-about-love-and-it-seems-like-a-cliche-but-it-s-a-real/) [Ben Vereen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-vereen/) > [Live stage is being made as you go along. You feel the energy. There's nothing like a live audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-vereen/live-stage-is-being-made-as-you-go-along-you-feel-the-energy-there-s/) [Ben Vereen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-vereen/) > [I coach young people. I have a group called BTP - Broadway Theatre Project.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-vereen/i-coach-young-people-i-have-a-group-called-btp-broadway-theatre/) [Ben Vereen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-vereen/) > [I go to my grandchildren. They keep their grandpa informed on what's going on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-vereen/i-go-to-my-grandchildren-they-keep-their-grandpa-informed-on-what-s/) [Ben Vereen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-vereen/) > [The stage sharpened my creative instrument and encouraged me to go deeper and try new things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-vereen/the-stage-sharpened-my-creative-instrument-and-encouraged-me-to-go/) [Ben Vereen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-vereen/) > [Sometimes we look for those thunderous things to happen in our life for our lives to change or go in the other direction. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-vereen/sometimes-we-look-for-those-thunderous-things-to-happen-in-our-life/) [Ben Vereen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-vereen/) > [As I laid in the hospital bed I started thinking that I had a show to do. I was hoping the Doctor would put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-vereen/as-i-laid-in-the-hospital-bed-i-started-thinking-that-i-had-a-show-to/) [Ben Vereen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-vereen/) > [When people come and see my show, I try to infuse into them that they can walk away feeling like their lives are a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-vereen/when-people-come-and-see-my-show-i-try-to-infuse-into-them-that-they/) [Ben Vereen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-vereen/) > [At the end of the day, give up your worries and give thanks for the journey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-vereen/at-the-end-of-the-day-give-up-your-worries-and-give-thanks-for-the/) [Ben Vereen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-vereen/) > [If we plant the right seeds, tomorrow will be better. If you put out good things, then you'll get good things back. That's part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-vereen/if-we-plant-the-right-seeds-tomorrow-will-be-better-if-you-put-out/) [Ben Vereen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-vereen/) > [Ive been blessed to be in a position to share (my experiences).](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-vereen/ive-been-blessed-to-be-in-a-position-to-share-my-experiences/) [Ben Vereen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-vereen/) > [I love sharing my story. It's endlessly healing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-vereen/i-love-sharing-my-story-it-s-endlessly-healing/) [Ben Vereen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-vereen/) > [So be encouraged and dedicate yourself to your dream and if your dream should come my way one day then we will dance upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-vereen/so-be-encouraged-and-dedicate-yourself-to-your-dream-and-if-your/) [Ben Vereen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-vereen/) > [The death of my daughter is a subject I talk about briefly because there is nothing more tragic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-vereen/the-death-of-my-daughter-is-a-subject-i-talk-about-briefly-because/) [Ben Vereen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-vereen/) > [Our creator says, 'Here's your birth and here's your death' - and the rest are the things you learn on your journey. This was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-vereen/our-creator-says-here-s-your-birth-and-here-s-your-death-and-the-rest/) [Ben Vereen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-vereen/) [Explore all 25 Ben Vereen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-vereen/) ## More Backstage quotes > [“Sometimes I fantasize backstage about how people do their laundry. Woolite? Mixed-color loads? Do they fold? Do they press? Do they Shout it out?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tori-amos/sometimes-i-fantasize-backstage-about-how-people-do-their-laundry/) [Tori Amos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tori-amos/) > [One of my earliest memories is being backstage at 'Bran Nue Dae' in Darwin when I was about eight. It's such a fun, happy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shari-sebbens/one-of-my-earliest-memories-is-being-backstage-at-bran-nue-dae-in/) [Shari Sebbens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shari-sebbens/) > [I certainly know that on our first tour of America in 1968, David Crosby came to see us backstage at the Fillmore East in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-hayward/i-certainly-know-that-on-our-first-tour-of-america-in-1968-david/) [Justin Hayward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-hayward/) > [In 2011, I had a big chip on my shoulder, and I felt like I had a lot to prove every time I went…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyson-kidd/in-2011-i-had-a-big-chip-on-my-shoulder-and-i-felt-like-i-had-a-lot/) [Tyson Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyson-kidd/) > [Woodstock - I didn't see anybody play, except when I was standing backstage waiting to go on, because it was so muddy. And the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-slick/woodstock-i-didn-t-see-anybody-play-except-when-i-was-standing/) [Grace Slick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-slick/) > [I spent 25 years clearly understanding that I'm not gonna meet Bono or the Edge. But then it happened at the Grammys when we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristian-bush/i-spent-25-years-clearly-understanding-that-i-m-not-gonna-meet-bono/) [Kristian Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristian-bush/) > [We need to diversify the people who are backstage and producing and marketing these shows. It's the limitations of these people that are holding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-nottage/we-need-to-diversify-the-people-who-are-backstage-and-producing-and/) [Lynn Nottage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-nottage/) > [“She was the backstage director who worked so hard to make the star shine and without whom there could be no show. She was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-lawson-timmer/she-was-the-backstage-director-who-worked-so-hard-to-make-the-star/) [Julie Lawson Timmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-lawson-timmer/) > [My dad was a theater actor, so I would follow him backstage. And my mom was a casting director. The moment I heard the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-slater/my-dad-was-a-theater-actor-so-i-would-follow-him-backstage-and-my-mom/) [Christian Slater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-slater/) > [“Get this into your head right from the start. Make backstage kids your best friends. Do not take all the glory. It is lonely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-goldin/get-this-into-your-head-right-from-the-start-make-backstage-kids-your/) [Lisa Goldin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-goldin/) > [I'm lucky in the sense that I can write wherever I am - on the bus, in the hotel room, backstage, sitting at home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/passenger/i-m-lucky-in-the-sense-that-i-can-write-wherever-i-am-on-the-bus-in/) [Passenger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/passenger/) > [ I think what you see \[in Salome the play backstage\] is an artist having this fit of temperament. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-pacino/i-think-what-you-see-in-salome-the-play-backstage-is-an-artist-having/) [Al Pacino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-pacino/) > [I was doing theater in my high school, and I started writing sort of silly songs on the piano backstage in summer theater. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/i-was-doing-theater-in-my-high-school-and-i-started-writing-sort-of/) [Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/) > [We have amazing people that help us backstage, and Arn Anderson is someone I always like to look to. He's a legend in his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-corbin/we-have-amazing-people-that-help-us-backstage-and-arn-anderson-is/) [Baron Corbin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-corbin/) > [I'm the kind of person who wants to present my most honest, authentic self to the world, so I hide backstage and rehearse honest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/i-m-the-kind-of-person-who-wants-to-present-my-most-honest-authentic/) [Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/) [Browse all 170 Backstage quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/backstage/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I didn't know who Langston Hughes was till he met me backstage.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ben Vereen" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-vereen/i-didn-t-know-who-langston-hughes-was-till-he-met-me-backstage/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Backstage" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-vereen/i-didn-t-know-who-langston-hughes-was-till-he-met-me-backstage/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49a/ben-vereen-23858_backstage_i-didn-t-know-who-langston-hughes-was-ti_1202276.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49a/ben-vereen-23858_backstage_i-didn-t-know-who-langston-hughes-was-ti_1202276.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49a/ben-vereen-23858_backstage_i-didn-t-know-who-langston-hughes-was-ti_1202276.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I didn't know who Langston Hughes was till he met me backstage.” — Ben Vereen", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ben Vereen", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-vereen/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I didn't know who Langston Hughes...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-vereen/i-didn-t-know-who-langston-hughes-was-till-he-met-me-backstage/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-vereen/i-didn-t-know-who-langston-hughes-was-till-he-met-me-backstage/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```