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The Book of American Negro Poetry
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126 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1922
380 people are currently reading
848 people want to read
About the author
James Weldon Johnson
148 books131 followersJames Weldon Johnson was an American author, politician, diplomat, critic, journalist, poet, anthologist, educator, lawyer, songwriter, and early civil rights activist. Johnson is remembered best for his writing, which includes novels, poems, and collections of folklore. He was also one of the first African-American professors at New York University. Later in life he was a professor of creative literature and writing at Fisk University.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
August 21, 2015
One of my favourite poets, James Weldon Johnson, edited this anthology of African-American poetry, which was published in 1922. I was impressed by this collection and the vision that James Weldon Johnson had in compiling it; he desired African-Americans to be proud of their heritage, and he realized that one way for this to happen is to introduce the world to their poetry. Here are some excerpts from James Weldon Johnson’s preface to the anthology:
“There is, perhaps, a better excuse for giving in Anthology of American Negro Poetry to the public than can be offered for many of the anthologies that have recently been issued. The public, generally speaking, does not know that there are American Negro poets–to supply this lack of information is, alone, a work worthy of somebody’s effort.”
“A people may become great through many means, but there is only one measure by which its greatness is recognized and acknowledged. The final measure of the greatness of all peoples is the amount and standard of the literature and art they have produced. The world does not know that a people is great until that people produces great literature and art. No people that has produced great literature and art has ever been looked upon by the world as distinctly inferior.”
I was introduced to an array of poets and a diversity of writing styles and topics.
Below is one of my favourite poems from the collection.
It Was Not Fate – William H. A. Moore
It was not fate which overtook me,
Rather a wayward, wilful wind
That blew hot for awhile
And then, as the even shadows came, blew cold.
What pity it is that a man grown old in life’s dreaming
Should stop, e’en for a moment, to look into a woman’s eyes.
And I forgot!
Forgot that one’s heart must be steeled against the east wind.
Life and death alike come out of the East:
Life as tender as young grass,
Death as dreadful as the sight of clotted blood.
I shall go back into the darkness,
Not to dream but to seek the light again.
I shall go by paths, mayhap,
On roads that wind around the foothills
Where the plains are bare and wild
And the passers-by come few and far between.
I want the night to be long, the moon blind,
The hills thick with moving memories,
And my heart beating a breathless requiem
For all the dead days I have lived.
When the Dawn comes — Dawn, deathless, dreaming –
I shall will that my soul must be cleansed of hate,
I shall pray for strength to hold children close to my heart,
I shall desire to build houses where the poor will know shelter, comfort, beauty.
And then may I look into a woman’s eyes
And find holiness, love and the peace which passeth understanding
“There is, perhaps, a better excuse for giving in Anthology of American Negro Poetry to the public than can be offered for many of the anthologies that have recently been issued. The public, generally speaking, does not know that there are American Negro poets–to supply this lack of information is, alone, a work worthy of somebody’s effort.”
“A people may become great through many means, but there is only one measure by which its greatness is recognized and acknowledged. The final measure of the greatness of all peoples is the amount and standard of the literature and art they have produced. The world does not know that a people is great until that people produces great literature and art. No people that has produced great literature and art has ever been looked upon by the world as distinctly inferior.”
I was introduced to an array of poets and a diversity of writing styles and topics.
Below is one of my favourite poems from the collection.
It Was Not Fate – William H. A. Moore
It was not fate which overtook me,
Rather a wayward, wilful wind
That blew hot for awhile
And then, as the even shadows came, blew cold.
What pity it is that a man grown old in life’s dreaming
Should stop, e’en for a moment, to look into a woman’s eyes.
And I forgot!
Forgot that one’s heart must be steeled against the east wind.
Life and death alike come out of the East:
Life as tender as young grass,
Death as dreadful as the sight of clotted blood.
I shall go back into the darkness,
Not to dream but to seek the light again.
I shall go by paths, mayhap,
On roads that wind around the foothills
Where the plains are bare and wild
And the passers-by come few and far between.
I want the night to be long, the moon blind,
The hills thick with moving memories,
And my heart beating a breathless requiem
For all the dead days I have lived.
When the Dawn comes — Dawn, deathless, dreaming –
I shall will that my soul must be cleansed of hate,
I shall pray for strength to hold children close to my heart,
I shall desire to build houses where the poor will know shelter, comfort, beauty.
And then may I look into a woman’s eyes
And find holiness, love and the peace which passeth understanding
April 7, 2024
Please do not stop at the last poem. Please read the Appendix and the Author Biographies. Definitely read the Appendix.
Thank you for reading.
Thank you for reading.
December 29, 2025
James Weldon Johnson published this anthology over 100 years ago, spotlighting 30+ Black American poets, some of whom were well-known for their time and others who Johnson stated were "destined to be known." The anthology is a good representation of the different forms of poetry as well as a diverse set of topics covered. My favorite poets in this collection included the following:
-Paul Laurence Dunbar
-William H.A. Moore
-James Weldon Johnson
-Leslie Pinckney Hill
-Edward Smyth Jones
-Georgia Douglas Johnson
-Paul Laurence Dunbar
-William H.A. Moore
-James Weldon Johnson
-Leslie Pinckney Hill
-Edward Smyth Jones
-Georgia Douglas Johnson
February 28, 2013
"A people may become great through many means, but there is only one measure by which its greatness is recognized and acknowledged. The final measure of the greatness of all peoples is the amount and standard of the literature and art they have produced. The world does not know that a people Is great until that people produces great literature and art. No people that has produced great literature and art has ever been looked upon by the world as distinctly Inferior."
I really liked these poems
"Two Points of View
FROM this low-lying valley; Oh, how sweet
And cool and calm and great is life, I ween,
There on yon mountain-throne—that sun-gold crest!
From this uplifted, mighty mountain-seat:
How bright and still and warm and soft and green
Seems yon low lily-vale of peace and rest!"
or even
"The Road to the Bow
EVER and ever anon,
After the black storm, the eternal, beauteous bow!
Brother, to rosy-painted mists that arch beyond,
Blithely I go.
My brows men laureled and my lyre
Twined with immortal ivy for one little rippling song;
My “House of Golden Leaves” they praised and “passionate fire”—
But, Friend, the way is long!
Onward and onward, up! away!
Though Fear flaunt all his banners in my face,
And my feet stumble, lo! the Orphean Day!
Forward by God’s grace!
These signs are still before me: “Fear,”
“Danger,” “Unprecedented,” and I hear black “No”
Still thundering, and “Churl.” Good Friend, I rest me here—
Then to the glittering bow!
Loometh and cometh Hate in wrath,
Mailed Wrong, swart Servitude and Shame with bitter rue,
Nathless a Negro poet’s feet must tread the path
The winged god knew.
Thus, my true Brother, dream-led, I
Forefend the anathema, following the span.
I hold my head as proudly high
As any man."
I really liked these poems
"Two Points of View
FROM this low-lying valley; Oh, how sweet
And cool and calm and great is life, I ween,
There on yon mountain-throne—that sun-gold crest!
From this uplifted, mighty mountain-seat:
How bright and still and warm and soft and green
Seems yon low lily-vale of peace and rest!"
or even
"The Road to the Bow
EVER and ever anon,
After the black storm, the eternal, beauteous bow!
Brother, to rosy-painted mists that arch beyond,
Blithely I go.
My brows men laureled and my lyre
Twined with immortal ivy for one little rippling song;
My “House of Golden Leaves” they praised and “passionate fire”—
But, Friend, the way is long!
Onward and onward, up! away!
Though Fear flaunt all his banners in my face,
And my feet stumble, lo! the Orphean Day!
Forward by God’s grace!
These signs are still before me: “Fear,”
“Danger,” “Unprecedented,” and I hear black “No”
Still thundering, and “Churl.” Good Friend, I rest me here—
Then to the glittering bow!
Loometh and cometh Hate in wrath,
Mailed Wrong, swart Servitude and Shame with bitter rue,
Nathless a Negro poet’s feet must tread the path
The winged god knew.
Thus, my true Brother, dream-led, I
Forefend the anathema, following the span.
I hold my head as proudly high
As any man."
January 17, 2024
This book, published in 1922, was one of the earliest, if not the first, anthology of African-American poets. It has nearly every important Black poet of that generation and previous except for Langston Hughes (who would not publish his first book of poetry until 1926) and Countee Cullen. It has some of the greats of the pre-Hughes era like Paul Laurence Dunbar (who most people at that time thought of when they heard the words "Negro poet"), and not so remembered. The editor of this book is James Weldon Johnson the man celebrated now for writing the "Black National Anthem" Lift Every Voice and Sing. He also has a good selection of poetry in here.
If I may make a personal preference I would seek out Claude McKay's "If We Must Die" which became a national favorite during WWI&II as he was often requested to read that poem on national and military radio stations. This is hilarious considering some of his views.
In the end I recommend this to everyone for historical value but also because dialect aside a good selection of these poems are pretty good and it shows people poetry with Black people did not begin with "The Bus Boy Poet".
If I may make a personal preference I would seek out Claude McKay's "If We Must Die" which became a national favorite during WWI&II as he was often requested to read that poem on national and military radio stations. This is hilarious considering some of his views.
In the end I recommend this to everyone for historical value but also because dialect aside a good selection of these poems are pretty good and it shows people poetry with Black people did not begin with "The Bus Boy Poet".
March 27, 2016
You can get this for free for your e-reader you know. Even from Amazonian overlords.
Read
November 7, 2025سپیدهدم:
فرشتهای در جامه سپید و پاک
خم شد و بر شب خوابناک بوسه زد
شب شرمگین بیدار شد؛ پری رفته بود
مردم سرخی شرم را دیدند و آن را سپیدهدم نامیدند
جیمز ولدن جانسون
فرشتهای در جامه سپید و پاک
خم شد و بر شب خوابناک بوسه زد
شب شرمگین بیدار شد؛ پری رفته بود
مردم سرخی شرم را دیدند و آن را سپیدهدم نامیدند
جیمز ولدن جانسون
Read
September 17, 2023Comprehensive book
The preface to this anthology is stunning. It is well written, informative and insightful.
It's been written a hundred years ago, and it could be a pretty good guidance to editors nowadays.
Poems are different. Those that were not written in anguish stand out for their lyric qualities. The other are just prose poetry. The language used is a slang hardly understandable to many people. It is not clarified additionally in a book. Outside of US it can be time-consuming to work through some of the expressions. This goes for some of the poems, not all of them.
It's pretty surprising to read this incorrectly spelled words, which brings a unique charm, since this kind of language is rarely encountered today.
Some of the poems are written in this lingo, the others are in standard English.
There is a certain freshness to the work, the poems don't seem to be this old. Historical point of view is almost invisible.
From European perspective, this book is seen differently than in US. Many poems are about white oppression, which is a sad thing indeed. Despite the torment black people went through, their poetry is really good. I suppose many would say that everyday life is more important than the poetry, but this way black people managed to overcome the white. In these poems black authors do not seek revenge, even though there are one or two that do. These poets still managed to stay human by clearly showing their integrity. Hatred is rarely expressed here. It was not an impulse to write, what is clear from the noble honesty pervading the verses.
Rhythm stands out in these verses, it is stronger than the content itself.
The preface to this anthology is stunning. It is well written, informative and insightful.
It's been written a hundred years ago, and it could be a pretty good guidance to editors nowadays.
Poems are different. Those that were not written in anguish stand out for their lyric qualities. The other are just prose poetry. The language used is a slang hardly understandable to many people. It is not clarified additionally in a book. Outside of US it can be time-consuming to work through some of the expressions. This goes for some of the poems, not all of them.
It's pretty surprising to read this incorrectly spelled words, which brings a unique charm, since this kind of language is rarely encountered today.
Some of the poems are written in this lingo, the others are in standard English.
There is a certain freshness to the work, the poems don't seem to be this old. Historical point of view is almost invisible.
From European perspective, this book is seen differently than in US. Many poems are about white oppression, which is a sad thing indeed. Despite the torment black people went through, their poetry is really good. I suppose many would say that everyday life is more important than the poetry, but this way black people managed to overcome the white. In these poems black authors do not seek revenge, even though there are one or two that do. These poets still managed to stay human by clearly showing their integrity. Hatred is rarely expressed here. It was not an impulse to write, what is clear from the noble honesty pervading the verses.
Rhythm stands out in these verses, it is stronger than the content itself.
December 2, 2019
Good.
Very enjoyable, though it was rather hard to make out the sounds (idiolects and dialects). Better if listened to. Tragic reality of lynchings, those poems definitely hit me. (And reminded me of strange fruit.)
Very enjoyable, though it was rather hard to make out the sounds (idiolects and dialects). Better if listened to. Tragic reality of lynchings, those poems definitely hit me. (And reminded me of strange fruit.)
February 8, 2021
Both historical and literary value
Not all the poems are equal here, which the editor acknowledges. I appreciate his short biographical notes at the end.
The preface takes up nearly half the book, which Johnson apologizes for, but does it anyway.
Some of the poems left me simply confused. Some had me blinking back tears. One had me smelling violets and sunlit ground, even though as I read, the real ground was covered in Ice and snow.
I appreciated, in these days of an ill informed cancel culture, the references these black poets frequently made to other poets and writers who inspired them, Chaucer, Keats, Homer.
Includes dialect poetry, love poems, poems of war, protest, death, life, hope and despair.
Not all the poems are equal here, which the editor acknowledges. I appreciate his short biographical notes at the end.
The preface takes up nearly half the book, which Johnson apologizes for, but does it anyway.
Some of the poems left me simply confused. Some had me blinking back tears. One had me smelling violets and sunlit ground, even though as I read, the real ground was covered in Ice and snow.
I appreciated, in these days of an ill informed cancel culture, the references these black poets frequently made to other poets and writers who inspired them, Chaucer, Keats, Homer.
Includes dialect poetry, love poems, poems of war, protest, death, life, hope and despair.
August 3, 2016
This is a great book of poetry! The beginning "preface" is more of a combination history lesson, critique and introduction of the poets that was a lot longer than I expected. The author even says that while he intended the preface to be short, in the end he decided there needed to be background to the poets and their poems as well as "Negro poetry" itself. While it was a bit long, I did enjoy reading the preface as I learned a lot.
The poetry in this book is wonderful to read. It is interesting to see the topics the poets wrote about, ranging from current events of the time, to love, anger, sadness and joy. Some poems have plenty of levity, while others take on a more somber tone. You will be sure to find many emotions in between too.
The poetry in this book is wonderful to read. It is interesting to see the topics the poets wrote about, ranging from current events of the time, to love, anger, sadness and joy. Some poems have plenty of levity, while others take on a more somber tone. You will be sure to find many emotions in between too.
December 19, 2022
Beautiful
What a great compilation of poems and prose. Such a diverse group of writers. This book paints a clear picture of pain, loss, celebration, and love in times where little hope could be found. For all people interested in black history, this is a must read.
What a great compilation of poems and prose. Such a diverse group of writers. This book paints a clear picture of pain, loss, celebration, and love in times where little hope could be found. For all people interested in black history, this is a must read.
June 10, 2021
This collection is worth reading for the introductory essay by James Weldon Johnson alone.
Published in 1922 just as the nascent Renaissance in Harlem is getting started, this anthology collects some of the most interesting poets working in the beginnings of the 20th century.
The contents are acknowledged to be uneven (some rely heavily on dialect; others imitate the British Romantics), but there are some real gems to be found by many voices I hadn't hear of before. There are some famous names here, Paul Lawrence Dunbar, W.E.B. DuBois, and Claude McKay, but there were several new discoveries for me, chiefly Fenton Johnson, William Stanley Brathwaite, and my favorite poet included here, Georgia Douglas Johnson.
My picks:
The Debt, Dunbar
White Oak, Dunabr
Tuskegee, Leslie Pickney Hill
Tired, Fenton Johnson
Heart of a Woman, Georgia Douglas Johnson
The Lynching, McKay
To the White Fiends, McKay
Published in 1922 just as the nascent Renaissance in Harlem is getting started, this anthology collects some of the most interesting poets working in the beginnings of the 20th century.
The contents are acknowledged to be uneven (some rely heavily on dialect; others imitate the British Romantics), but there are some real gems to be found by many voices I hadn't hear of before. There are some famous names here, Paul Lawrence Dunbar, W.E.B. DuBois, and Claude McKay, but there were several new discoveries for me, chiefly Fenton Johnson, William Stanley Brathwaite, and my favorite poet included here, Georgia Douglas Johnson.
My picks:
The Debt, Dunbar
White Oak, Dunabr
Tuskegee, Leslie Pickney Hill
Tired, Fenton Johnson
Heart of a Woman, Georgia Douglas Johnson
The Lynching, McKay
To the White Fiends, McKay
December 17, 2017
Eye opening and true. In this day and age it is a necessary read. To understand ourselves we need to see the truth of our past and poets have a way of cutting into those truths in a way that essays and lectures don't often reach. These poems reach the heart of men and women dealing with oppression, love, joy, anger, sorrow, faith, and all things that encompass what it means to be human. The fact that these poets aren't as known as Keats, Wadsworth, or Longfellow is a shame! Sadly it showed me just how far we've yet to go in educating our children of the fullness of our history, of our collective history as Americans, and embrace ALL the passion, hatred, love, and humanity of us all.
June 17, 2017
I was searching for a book to fulfill a portion of my readers challenge and stumbled upon this amazing compilation. There are over 30 poets and 177 beautifully detailed works in this collection. "The Haunted Oak" is such a fitting title and keenly distressing. "Calling the Doctor" reminds me of all the things Grandma use to mention when she would talk about curing ills. And "Miss Melerlee"- "Dat’s not yo’ name, but it ought to be!" is just so fun to recite. Throughout this book, the cadence is beautiful on the tongue and the words astute. I give this 5 stars. I was blessed to find this free on Amazon for Kindle.
August 28, 2021
I have read the longer second edition of this. It's an anthology of African American poetry from around 1890-1930. Compiled by the poet and novelist James Weldon Johnson, the volume has a kind of time capsule value. There's a lot commendable and a lot that Johnson himself treats in his introductions dismissively as barely worthy of notice. All of the poets worth reading further are available in complete collections of their poetry, but readers may be introduced to a few they hadn't read before. Kevin Young's anthology of 250 years of African American poetry would be a better investment now.
June 2, 2021
I had never read this previously and it is a wonderful collection of poetry and sonnets written by black Americans about a century ago (or more). I loved the variety of subject and style. I apprecIted the historical context and relevance. I loved the colloquialisms and the relevance to the here and now. Highly recommend if you appreciate or are discovering an appreciation for poetry or for black culture and history.
October 16, 2020
Touching; characterized by depth and earnestness.
Late 19th, early 20th century poetry. The memory of slavery lingers in many of the poems. These poets understood what steuggle is. Also, there is a lot of exultation of the beauty of nature. AsI said, they are touching, and not obtuse like much of modern poetry.
Late 19th, early 20th century poetry. The memory of slavery lingers in many of the poems. These poets understood what steuggle is. Also, there is a lot of exultation of the beauty of nature. AsI said, they are touching, and not obtuse like much of modern poetry.
December 24, 2019
I'm always a fan of the poetic form. I often wonder how poets can say much in so little words. In this collection you find names and work of African American writers may have never heard of or know little about. I enjoyed this because of its depth and variety.
March 24, 2018
A great book of poetry!!!
April 14, 2021
George Moses Horton has become a favorite.
May 2, 2022
Wonderful
I just finished reading this and I thought it was a great collection of poems. If I hadn't seen this I probably would not have gotten it. But I am glad I did. Good job!
I just finished reading this and I thought it was a great collection of poems. If I hadn't seen this I probably would not have gotten it. But I am glad I did. Good job!
December 2, 2024
A delight to read such rich poems. These poets accomplished remarkable prose while navigating troubled waters.
May 31, 2020
Favorite poems:
Little Brown Baby
The Haunted Oak
Uncle Eph's Banjo Song
Miss Melerlee
The Harlem Dancer
Spring in New Hampshire
The Barrier
Sonnet
Little Brown Baby
The Haunted Oak
Uncle Eph's Banjo Song
Miss Melerlee
The Harlem Dancer
Spring in New Hampshire
The Barrier
Sonnet
February 18, 2017
Each poet is different. I like the fact that biographies of the authors are in the book. A few are unknown or not as well known as Paul Laurence Dunbar, etc.
January 3, 2019
Released in 1922, The Book of American Negro Poetry was the first black literary anthology published in the United States. With the exception of Langston Hughes, it contains every important African-American poet of the period, along with several otherwise lost to obscurity, such as William H.A. Moore and Roscoe C. Jamison. Editor James Weldon Johnson's long introduction is worth reading all on its own. He discusses the concept of cultural appropriation decades before the term was coined and provides a critical in-depth survey of black American poetry from Phillis Wheatley through the current Harlem Renaissance. The poems themselves are incredibly diverse, exploring not only racial topics but also themes of nature, gratitude, romance, religion, and simple everyday life.
Some notes on the LibriVox audiobook: Lynda Marie Neilson was terrible. She's an elderly white Canadian trying to read poetry written in vintage AAVE and the result is just impossible to listen to. They should've given all the dialect poems to Kahlil B and David Gore. They were excellent.
Some notes on the LibriVox audiobook: Lynda Marie Neilson was terrible. She's an elderly white Canadian trying to read poetry written in vintage AAVE and the result is just impossible to listen to. They should've given all the dialect poems to Kahlil B and David Gore. They were excellent.
July 2, 2014
Great range of themes, emotions
I think this work is indispensable. I was introduced to many poets, and had a wonderful time looking up their histories, careers, politics, activism, and other writings. Anyone who's interested in poetry would enjoy this book. Topics range from the merits of a family meal to the injustice of slavery and the joy of freedom. Many Biblical and mythological references, too.
I think this work is indispensable. I was introduced to many poets, and had a wonderful time looking up their histories, careers, politics, activism, and other writings. Anyone who's interested in poetry would enjoy this book. Topics range from the merits of a family meal to the injustice of slavery and the joy of freedom. Many Biblical and mythological references, too.
June 24, 2011
This is an early Negro Poetry anthology. James Weldon Johnson's insights are spot on. He traces African American poetry from slavery through the pre-Harlem Renaissance. It has a couple of surprises: Claude McKay and Louisville poet Joseph Seamon Cotter, Jr. (Cotter Homes).
March 30, 2012
This book changed my life at an early age. I LOVE poetry and always have. In the beginning of finding that love I was introduced to the poetry of my ancestors and that I will never forget. For me it was emotional, funny, and a learning experience through the poetry of my kin!
April 4, 2013
This collection of poetry provides a necessary and enlightening voice in history too often missing in Western Literature. The poems successfully capture a time, place, and people; none of which should be forgotten.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews