* Black vernacular: Hughes was deeply committed to capturing the rhythms, idioms, and experiences of African American life. He was influenced by the oral tradition of storytelling, blues music, and the everyday language of Black people. He aimed to elevate this vernacular and make it a literary force.
* Modernist writers: Like other writers of the Harlem Renaissance, Hughes was influenced by modernist writers like Ezra Pound and T.S. Eliot. He adopted elements of modernism like free verse, fragmented imagery, and a focus on the inner life. However, he often blended these modern techniques with elements of African American folk culture.
* Walt Whitman: Hughes admired Whitman's democratic ideals and his celebration of everyday life. He saw Whitman as a predecessor in his commitment to writing about the common people and their struggles.
* Paul Laurence Dunbar: Hughes saw Dunbar as a pioneering figure in African American literature. He was particularly drawn to Dunbar's use of dialect and his exploration of themes of racial identity.
Instead of mimicking any one writer, Hughes sought to synthesize these influences into his own distinctive style. He created a poetry that was both deeply personal and culturally rooted, and he used his writing to challenge racial stereotypes and advocate for social justice.