James Weldon Johnson – Author Discussion Luigi J. Compuesto Dr. Carter Oct. 13, 2013

Early Life 0 Born on June 17, 1871 in Jacksonville, Florida. 0 Parents were Helen Louise Dillet and James Johnson. 0 His brother, John Rosamond Johnson, would later become a composer. 0 James Weldon Johnson’s first teacher was his mother, who taught at a music and at a public school. It was also his mother that encouraged to appreciate English literature and European music. After being homeschooled by his mother, James Weldon Johnson went to Edwin M. Stanton School.

Adolescent Years 0 James Weldon Johnson enrolled at Clark Atlanta University at an early age of 16. There he earned his bachelors degree when he graduated in In addition to his bachelors degree, James Weldon Johnson also completed graduate work there. 0 James Weldon Johnson had a notion that his education would be dedicated to the betterment of his fellow African-Americans.

Professional Years 0 After graduation from Clark Atlanta University, James Weldon Johnson worked in rural Georgia for two summers and as a high school principal at his hometown. 0 Aside from working as a principal, JWJ worked for a diplomatic corps and as a civil rights activist. 0 JWJ also founded a newspaper called Daily American. Though, it had to be discontinued due to funding issues. 0 JWJ worked with his brother, John Rosamond Johnson, to produce music and operas. 0 The brothers then decided to partner up with Bob Cole to write songs, causing JWJ to resign as a principal and move to New York.

Profession Years (cont…) 0 However, JWJ became discouraged by the rampant racial discrimination that were present in the popular songs. 0 This incident caused JWJ to attend Columbia University to expand his knowledge of literature. 0 JWJ managed to become a consul at Puerto Cabello, Venezuela in While there, JWJ wrote poems and a novel. Three years after working as a consul at Puerto Cabello, he was transferred to Corinto, Nicaragua. There he met and married Grace Nail. 0 At Corinto, JWJ finished the novel he wrote, which was The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man. In 1912, JWJ published the novel anonymously so that readers would view this novel without bias.

Professional Years (cont…) 0 In 1913, JWJ resigned his consulship, and along with his wife Grace Nail Johnson returned to U.S. and decided to live in Jacksonville. 0 After year in Jacksonville, they decided to move back to New York, where JWJ worked as an editorial writer for New York Age, in which he promoted equal rights. 0 JWJ published his poetry collection labeled Fifty Years and Other Poems in The poem was well received by the readers when it was first released in New York Times.

Professional Years (cont…) – JWJ was invited to work for NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) by Joel E. Spriggan. Four years after he began working for NAACP he was promoted to general secretary for the association due to his outstanding involvement. 0 While working for NAACP, JWJ only managed to produce three anthologies: The Book of American Negro Poetry, The Book of American Negro Spirituals, The Second Book of American Negro Spirituals. 0 In 1927, JWJ published his second poem collection titled God’s Trombones: Seven Negro Sermons in Verse. 0 In 1930, JWJ relinquished his spot as the general secretary for the NAACP due to strenuous work. 0 As he was approaching the end of his life JWJ wrote several more books: Black Manhattan, Along This Way, Negro Americans, What Now? 0 JWJ died on June 26, 1938 in Wiscasset, Maine when his car was struck by a train.

My City 0 I selected this poem to analyze due to the fact that I was intrigued by the way James Weldon Johnson portrayed a dark setting. 0 JWJ properly incorporated a dark tone in his poem to show how much he feared death. 0 JWJ also portrayed how much he loved the city of Manhattan due to its setting and its inhabitants.

Sence You Went Away 0 I chose this poem due to the fact that it was written in a somewhat traditional African-American tone. 0 JWJ wrote this poem in a way that it portrayed his love for his African-American ancestry. He wrote this poem in a traditional African-American voice plus the feeling of something being taken away from someone. 0 He repeats Sence You Went Away, in the end of every stanza which mostly consisted of sad and foreboding thoughts.

Bibliography: 0 "James Weldon Johnson, " University of South Carolina Libraries. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Oct html 0 "James Weldon Johnson." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 09 July Web. 13 Oct "James Weldon Johnson." Poets.org. Academy of American Poets, n.d. Web. 13 Oct