John Fenton Johnson was born ninth of nine children into a Kentucky whiskey-making family with a strong storytelling tradition.
Famous quotes containing the words fenton and/or johnson:
“The writing of a poem is like a child throwing stones into a mineshaft. You compose first, then you listen for the reverberation.”
—James Fenton (b. 1949)
“Throw the children into the river; civilization has given us too
many.
It is better to die than to grow up and find that you are colored.
Pluck the stars out of the heavens. The stars mark our destiny. The
stars marked my destiny.
I am tired of civilization.”
—Fenton Johnson (1886–1958)