James Weldon Johnson

James Weldon Johnson: biographical sketch James Weldon Johnson (June 17, 1871 – June 26, 1938) made his contribution to society and culture as a civil rights activist and with his creations during the Harlem Renaissance. Among his most famous poems are Lift Every Voice and Sing, which was put to music and is known as the Negro National Anthem. In Having Our Say, Hearth states that James Weldon Johnson was one of many other African Americans at this time who made a difference with their art and literature, which birthed a new vibrant culture (1993 p. 135). Adelman (1967) stated, “The poetry he had written during his years with the NAACP was the finest he had ever done and among the best Negro poetry that had been written”(p. 145). He became part of the NAACP, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, in 1916 (Adelman 1967 p. 140). Johnson also created a newspaper called The Daily American in 1885, which expressed his and…

With the stories circulating in the news in the past four years, one could say that the United States has had multiple public lynching’s similar to that told in Johnson’s poem. For example, the Eric Garner story. A man who pleading and repeating I cannot breathe over and over again all to have people around him just staring in aww and as another man, friend or foe, recorded this indecent is no better than the men who photographed lynching mobs. In the poem Johnson paints the picture of a man who…

Since the creation of man and woman, society has ordered itself through categorization. Whether it be men and women, rich and poor, black and white, slaves and free-men, such classifications have proliferated dichotomous thinking and acting. In the aftermath of the civil war - a war that was fought over the binary institution that was slavery - James Weldon Johnson unravels the complexity of racial ideology in his 1912 novel The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man. Through character development…

While blowing through the trumpet, he stands on a mountain with his left foot and in the middle of the sea with his right foot. In his left hand, Gabriel holds the key to the gates of heaven. The left side of the painting shows the ones that are being punished, who are struck by lightning which is in a zigzagged form. On the right side, Gabriel is giving rewards to those who have been faithful to God by putting a yellow light over their heads. The faithful ones are raising their hands in the air…

African Americans have had a huge impact on American history. They have endured through unimaginable suffering and an uncountable amount of obstacles. Because of this, the African Americans have developed strong, unique voices which are expressed in many pieces of literature. African American literature often times moralize with religious themes and celebrate African roots. In James Weldon Johnson’s poem “The Creation”, he expresses his voice by explaining God’s byzantine and baroque process of…

The title of this poem is "The Creation" by James Weldon Johnson. "The Creation" is about God in action with his feelings and love for the world and mankind. The definition of creation is the bringing into the existence of the universe with regards to be an act of God. Johnson shows us God's power and love expressing God's love and concern for his creation. This poem is taken and recreated from the book of Genesis from the Holy Bible. It is seen as a third person point of view looking through…

fictional narrative, The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man by James Weldon Johnson, Johnson depicts an African American man that studies music which eventually leads him out of the gambling world. Similarly, in Up From Slavery by Booker T. Washington, speaks to the same pursuit that we see in Johnson’s piece, as an African American man uses formal education in order to escape the lower working class. While Washington and Johnson both ruthlessly pursue knowledge that lead them to escape the…

Hall painting we see how the person is under a spotlight in a club. In the picture the silhouettes seem to represent distasteful characters and morals. In the picture we see modern indulgence such as money, dice, cards and even a gin bottle at the top left of the picture. This picture also highlighted the Harlem renaissance. The Harlem renaissance explored the double consciousness defining African American identity, which was first defined in the writings of W.E.B Du Bois, Claude Mckay and…

James Mercer Langston Hughes was born on the 1st of February, 1902 in Missouri. His parents got a divorce when he was young, and he was raised by his grandmother till the age of thirteen. He worked odd jobs such as assistant cook, launderer, and busboy. In 1930, he won the Harmon gold medal for literature. He wrote several novels, short stories, plays and poems, and he was well known for his interest in Jazz and how it influenced his writing. His life and works helped start the Harlem…

The Harlem Renaissance was a time of empowerment and cultural growth for African Americans and this is reflected in the literature form that era. In the empowering poem, “Hey Black Child” by Useni Perkins the speaker explores the idea of self-empowerment in order to promote the idea of cultural advancement. Perkins uses repetition to convey the message that if young black children remain hopeful and remember that they matter and they can acquire achievement through dedication and education they…