Final answer:
Langston Hughes's poetry references the civil right to equality and freedom from discrimination, deeply influenced by his experiences and family history of activism against racism.
Step-by-step explanation:
The civil right Langston Hughes references in his poetry is the right to equality and freedom from racial discrimination. Drawing from personal experiences and historical context, Hughes's poems often address the shortcomings of integration and the persistent marginalization of African Americans, notably in the supposedly progressive North. His poetry, a product of both his family history of fighting for justice and his own encounters with racism, became a powerful vehicle for criticizing unfair societal norms and advocating for the dignity and rights of African Americans.