James Weldon Johnson (June 17, 1871 – June 26, 1938) was an American author, politician, diplomat, critic, journalist, poet, anthologist, educator, lawyer, songwriter, and early civil rights activist. Johnson is remembered best for his leadership within the NAACP, as well as 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.
Read more about James Weldon Johnson: Life, Education and Law, Diplomacy, Literature and Anthology, Poetry, Activism, Awards, Honors, and Legacy
Famous quotes containing the words weldon johnson, james, weldon and/or johnson:
“Young manYoung manYour arms too short to box with God.”
—James Weldon Johnson (18711938)
“Habit is thus the enormous fly-wheel of society, its most precious conservative agent. It alone is what keeps us all within the bounds of ordinance, and saves the children of fortune from the envious uprisings of the poor.”
—William James (18431916)
“Young women especially have something invested in being nice people, and its only when you have children that you realise youre not a nice person at all, but generally a selfish bully.”
—Fay Weldon (b. 1933)
“I know. Thats what makes us tough. Rich fellows come up and they die. Their kids aint no good and they die out. But we keepa comin. Were the people that live. They cant wipe us out. They cant lick us. Well go on forever, Pa, cause were the people.”
—Nunnally Johnson (18971977)