The Essential Writings of James Weldon Johnson

by James Weldon Johnson, Charles Johnson (Foreword), Rudolph Byrd (Editor)

“A canonical collection, splendidly and sensitively edited by Rudolph Byrd.”
–Henry Louis Gates, Jr.

One of the leading voices of the Harlem Resaissance and a crucial literary figure of his time, James Weldon Johnson was also an editor, songwriter, founding member and leader of the NAACP, and the first African American to hold a diplomatic post as consul to Venezuela and Nicaragua. This comprehensive volume of Johnson’s works includes the seminal novel Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man , poems from God’s Trombones , essays on cultural and political topics, selections from Johnson’s autobiography, Along This Way , and two previously unpublished short Do You Believe in Ghosts? and The Engineer . Featuring a chronology, bibliography, and a Foreword by acclaimed author Charles Johnson, this Modern Library edition showcases the tremendous range of James Weldon Johnson’s writings and their considerable influence on American civic and cultural life.

“This collection of poetry, fiction, criticism, autobiography, political writing and two unpublished plays by James Weldon Johnson (1871-1938) spans 60 years of pure triumph over adversity. [….Johnson’s] nobility, his inspiration shine forth from these pages, setting moral and artistic standards.” — Los Angeles Times

Genres: African American

352 pages, Paperback

First published October 21, 2008

About the author

James 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.

Reviews

[Joseph Carrabis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book to learn more about Harlem Renaissance authors. I found the book tough going at times because 1) it hurt reading some of Johnson's passages. They are beautiful, elegant, masterful, and depict the Black experience of the time so well I felt what Johnson must have experience at the time. 2) I realized I have some prejudices/bigotries/ignorances/stupidities and must deal with them. I am a product of my times and environment and that's not an excuse, merely a point of understanding.
Consider this paragraph from The Autobiography of an Ex-Coloured Man:
And it is this, too, which makes the coloured people of this country, in reality, a mystery to the whites. It is a difficult thing for a white man to learn what a coloured man really thinks; because, generally, with the latter an additional and different light must be brought to bear on what he thinks; and his thoughts are often influenced by considerations so delicate and subtle that it would be impossible for him to confess or explain them to one of the opposite race. This gives to every coloured man, in proportion to his intellectuality, a sort of dual personality; there is one phase of him which is disclosed only in the freemasonry of his own race. I have often watched with interest and sometimes with amazement even ignorant coloured men under cover of broad grins and minstrel antics maintain this dualism in the presence of white men.
I genuinely wept reading that because I've witnessed it in action, wondered about it, and never felt free enough to ask my African-american friends about it.
Also this:
But the real enthusiasm was aroused by "Shiny". He was the principal speaker of the day, and well did he measure up to the honour. He made a striking picture, that thin little black boy standing on the platform, dressed in clothes that did not fit him any too well, his eyes burning with excitement, his shrill, musical voice vibrating in tones of appealing defiance, and his black face alight with such great intelligence and earnestness as to be positively handsome. What were his thoughts when he stepped forward and looked into that crowd of faces, all white with the exception of a score or so that were lost to view? I do not know, but I fancy he felt his loneliness. I think there must have rushed over him a feeling akin to that of a gladiator tossed into the arena and bade to fight for his life. I think that solitary little black figure standing there felt that for the particular time and place he bore the weight and responsibility of his race; that for him to fail meant general defeat; but he won, and nobly. His oration was Wendell Phillips's "Toussaint L'Ouverture," a speech which may now be classed as rhetorical - ”even, perhaps, bombastic; but as the words fell from "Shiny's" lips their effect was magical. How so young an orator could stir so great enthusiasm was to be wondered at. When, in the famous peroration, his voice, trembling with suppressed emotion, rose higher and higher and then rested on the name "Toussaint L'Ouverture," it was like touching an electric button which loosed the pent-up feelings of his listeners. They actually rose to him.
Again, I wept realizing the truth of it.
Sometimes it is painful to be enlightened and I know I have a long way to go.
And this book is replete with such gems.
Highly educational, this book is going back on my shelf to be read again.

[Hal Paisant · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thoughtful perspective on what it means to be Black in America

I enjoyed his partial portrayal of himself in "ex Coloured Man". How many men and women in his situation went through life similarly, but not as fortunate.
His descriptions of life in Renaissance Harlem and in Atlanta are vivid and colorful. His life in Jacksonville is full of achievements and setbacks.
Johnson is not only smart but a "deep thinker". He is able to look forward generate ideas and plans for achieving equality for Blacks in America. He also recognizes the crab mentality that will hold us back. Nonetheless, he puts forth common sense recommendations for Black folks to achieve the goal of equality in America.
I enjoyed this book very much.
Young Blacks and Whites would gain much insight by reading this book.

[Marg · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection of his writings prompted me to buy his complete autobiography, Along This Way. He writes clear, engaging prose. His essays continue to be relevant and sharp. I wish I had read him when I was in school for many reasons. Well worth putting on suggested reading lists for high school and college students. I have always loved Lift Every Voice, one of the songs written with his brother, Rosamond, and I'm glad to know more about him.

[Sabrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun writer, love his style. "My City" is worth looking into