Eldon and Virginia Dedini's Copy of Simple Speaks His Mind by Langston Hughes

A very nice surprise just turned up on the book market in Portland revealing a thread connecting the world of writing and literature with the world of cartooning and art. It comes out of the estate of Eldon and Virginia Dedini, he a cartoonist and she a painter. The volume is inscribed to the couple by Langston Hughes, the poet and activist who was a leading figure in the Harlem Renaissance. Simple Speaks His Mind is a collection of columns that first appeared in the Chicago Defender. It was published in 1950 and personalized by the author in the year of publication as a gift from Nate and Gerry White.

Front cover

Back cover

Langston Hughes
AbeBooks listing accessed September 20, 2025

https://www.abebooks.com/signed-first-edition/Simple-Speaks-Mind-Hughes-Langston-Simon/32305474586/bd?cm_ven=nl&cm_cat=trg&cm_pla=want_CM&ref_=pe_aep_AEP_wants_buyer-wants&cm_ite=viewbook

Langston Hughes
AbeBooks item description

Note:  Anyone can browse the Langston Hughes book Simple Speaks His Mind via the Internet Archive here. 

I am always looking to post insights into the work of cartoonist Eldon Dedini. Sure, he's already well-represented in the archive, but wouldn't more be even better? Of course it would.

Some of the work of Virginia Conroy Dedini is on view at the Lost Art Salon here. At this writing, two of her paintings remain available for purchase. 

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