Established to bring the great writers of the African-American experience and the international African diaspora to the City College of New York and at other venues around New York City, and to encourage creative activity, the festival dedicated itself to the Harlem community, in honor of Hughes' long time residence.

The festival is typically a one or two-day affair that includes musical interludes, film screenings, student performances, panel discussions, and dramatic productions.

In addition to awarding the Langston Hughes medallion, the festival offers conferences and symposia, where distinguished scholars from around the country and the world are invited to discuss Black literature and the arts.

Past award winners include James Baldwin, Gwendolyn Brooks, Toni Morrison, August Wilson, Wole Soyinka, Derek Walcott, Octavia E. Butler, and Edwidge Danticat.

Recipients of the Langston Hughes medallion[3] are: Raymond R. Patterson, Jo-Ann Hamilton, Victoria Chevalier, Gordon Thompson, Retha Powers, and Vanessa K. Valdés