James Weldon Johnson Quotes

James Weldon Johnson
American Poet
Born: Jun 17, 1871
Died: Jun 26, 1938
American Good Man Me People White
Related authors: Edgar Allan Poe Emily Dickinson Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Maya Angelou Ralph Waldo Emerson Robert Frost T. S. Eliot Walt Whitman
You are young, gifted, and Black. We must begin to tell our young, There's a world waiting for you, Yours is the quest that's just begun. James Weldon Johnson
You Waiting World Black Young Our Gifted Tell Must Quest Begin Begun Just Yours
Any musical person who has never heard a Negro congregation under the spell of religious fervor sing these old songs has missed one of the most thrilling emotions which the human heart may experience. James Weldon Johnson
Heart Experience Emotions Old Human Heart Old Songs Spell Musical Religious Thrilling Never Songs Missed Most Sing Heard Fervor Person Any May Human Which Congregation Who
It is a struggle; for though the black man fights passively, he nevertheless fights; and his passive resistance is more effective at present than active resistance could possibly be. He bears the fury of the storm as does the willow tree. James Weldon Johnson
Man Struggle Black Active Tree Fury Though Possibly Willow More Bears Could He Nevertheless Does Passive His Passively Effective Than Storm Fights Present Resistance
Southern white people despise the Negro as a race, and will do nothing to aid in his elevation as such; but for certain individuals they have a strong affection, and are helpful to them in many ways. James Weldon Johnson
People Strong Will Affection Nothing White Aid Despise Ways Individuals His Southern Race Them Certain Helpful Many Elevation
Northern white people love the Negro in a sort of abstract way, as a race; through a sense of justice, charity, and philanthropy, they will liberally assist in his elevation. James Weldon Johnson
Love Justice Charity People Will Sense White Philanthropy Way Through Abstract Sort His Northern Race Elevation Assist
But I must own that I also felt stirred by an unselfish desire to voice all the joys and sorrows, the hopes and ambitions, of the American Negro, in classic musical form. James Weldon Johnson
Ambition Own Musical Must Hopes Classic Voice Unselfish Joys Also Sorrows Felt Stirred American Form Desire
As yet, the Negroes themselves do not fully appreciate these old slave songs. James Weldon Johnson
Old Negroes Songs Themselves Fully Slave Appreciate
Washington shows the Negro not only at his best, but also at his worst. James Weldon Johnson
Best Worst Only Also His Shows Washington
Through my music teaching and my not absolutely irregular attendance at church, I became acquainted with the best class of colored people in Jacksonville. James Weldon Johnson
Music Best Class People Church Through Colored Absolutely Attendance Became Irregular Acquainted Teaching
Shortly after this I was made a member of the boys' choir, it being found that I possessed a clear, strong soprano voice. I enjoyed the singing very much. James Weldon Johnson
Strong Made Singing Possessed Member Voice Clear Soprano Boy Very Being After Much Choir Found Enjoyed
She was my first love, and I loved her as only a boy loves. James Weldon Johnson
Love First Only First Love She Boy Loved Loves Her
My luck at the gambling table was varied; sometimes I was fifty to a hundred dollars ahead, and at other times I had to borrow money from my fellow workmen to settle my room rent and pay for my meals. James Weldon Johnson
Money Sometimes Pay Luck Other Settle Hundred Table Borrow Varied Had Fellow Rent Dollars Times Meals Room Fifty Gambling Workmen
My appearance was always good and my ability to play on the piano, especially ragtime, which was then at the height of its vogue, made me a welcome guest. James Weldon Johnson
Good Me Welcome Made Guest Ability Vogue Piano Always Which Height Then Appearance Play
In Berlin I especially enjoyed the orchestral concerts, and I attended a large number of them. I formed the acquaintance of a good many musicians, several of whom spoke of my playing in high terms. James Weldon Johnson
Good Musicians Several Berlin High Attended Spoke Terms Concerts Orchestral Formed Acquaintance Them Large Many Large Number Whom Enjoyed Playing Number
I thought of Paris as a beauty spot on the face of the earth, and of London as a big freckle. James Weldon Johnson
Thought Face Beauty Big Earth London Paris Spot
I had enjoyed life in Paris, and, taking all things into consideration, enjoyed it wholesomely. James Weldon Johnson
Life Consideration All Things Paris Had Taking Enjoyed Things
I do not see how a people that can find in its conscience any excuse whatever for slowly burning to death a human being, or for tolerating such an act, can be entrusted with the salvation of a race. James Weldon Johnson
Death People Human Being Whatever Find See Slowly Entrusted Excuse How Salvation Any Human Being Burning Race Act Tolerating Conscience
Americans are immensely popular in Paris; and this is not due solely to the fact that they spend lots of money there, for they spend just as much or more in London, and in the latter city they are merely tolerated because they do spend. James Weldon Johnson
Money Spend Solely Immensely Latter City London More Paris Fact Merely Because Due Lots American Just Just As Much Much Tolerated Popular

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