Final answer:
Langston Hughes published his first poetry collection, Color, while still an undergraduate at New York University and is an iconic figure of the Harlem Renaissance.
Step-by-step explanation:
The poet who published his first poetry collection Color while still an undergraduate at New York University is Langston Hughes. Hughes was a central figure in the Harlem Renaissance, a movement that saw a flourishing of African American culture in the arts during the 1920s and 1930s. His literature not only highlights the African American experience but also portrays the broader spectrum of American social life.
Langston Hughes was a gifted writer who addressed the themes of African American heritage and the collective spirit of his community. He published works that became synonymous with the ideals of the Harlem Renaissance, utilizing the music, speech, and lived experiences of urban African Americans in his poetry. With pieces like The Negro Speaks of Rivers and I, Too, Sing America, Hughes cemented his reputation as a critical voice advocating for the African American experience.