James Weldon Johnson Quotes - Page 2

Quotes about:

• I'm lonely I'll make me a world.

  James Weldon Johnson

  Lonely, World, I'm Lonely

  "The Creation" l. 1 (1927)

  14 Copy quote

• She was my first love, and I loved her as only a boy loves.

  James Weldon Johnson

  First Love, Boys, Firsts

  James Weldon Johnson (2012). “The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man”, p.13, Courier Corporation

  8 Copy quote

• O Black and unknown bards of long ago, How came your lips to touch the sacred fire?

  James Weldon Johnson

  Music, Fire, Long Ago

  "O Black and Unknown Bards" l. 1 (1917)

  17 Copy quote

• Amsterdam was a great surprise to me. I had always thought of Venice as the city of canals; it had never entered my mind that I should find similar conditions in a Dutch town.

  James Weldon Johnson

  Cities, Venice, Mind

  James Weldon Johnson, Sondra K. Wilson (1995). “The Selected Writings of James Weldon Johnson: Social, political, and literary essays”, p.331, Oxford University Press on Demand

  129 Copy quote

• I found cause to wonder upon what ground the English accuse Americans of corrupting the language by introducing slang words. I think I heard more and more different kinds of slang during my few weeks' stay in London than in my whole "tenderloin" life in New York. But I suppose the English feel that the language is theirs, and that they may do with it as they please without at the same time allowing that privilege to others.

  James Weldon Johnson

  New York, Thinking, May

  James Weldon Johnson (2011). “The Essential Writings of James Weldon Johnson”, p.163, Modern Library

  8 Copy quote

• And so for a couple of years my life was divided between my music and my school books.

  James Weldon Johnson

  Couple, Book, School

  James Weldon Johnson (2012). “The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man”, p.4, Courier Corporation

  9 Copy quote

• As yet, the Negroes themselves do not fully appreciate these old slave songs.

  James Weldon Johnson

  Song, Appreciate, Slave

  James Weldon Johnson, Sondra K. Wilson (1995). “The Selected Writings of James Weldon Johnson: Social, political, and literary essays”, p.349, Oxford University Press on Demand

  4 Copy quote

• I finally made up my mind that I would neither disclaim the black race nor claim the white race; but that I would change my name, raise a mustache, and let the world take me for what it would; that it was not necessary for me to go about with a label of inferiority pasted across my forehead.

  James Weldon Johnson

  Race, Lynching, Names

  James Weldon Johnson “The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man”, W. W. Norton & Company

  11 Copy quote

• 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

  Strong, Race, White

  James Weldon Johnson (2012). “The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man”, p.80, Courier Corporation

  7 Copy quote

• 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

  Cities, Paris, London

  James Weldon Johnson (2012). “The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man”, p.63, Courier Corporation

  9 Copy quote

• A great wave of humiliation and shame swept over me. Shame that I belonged to a race that could be so dealt with; and shame for my country, that it, the great example of democracy to the world, should be the only civilized, if not the only state on earth, where a human being would be burned alive.

  James Weldon Johnson

  Country, Race, Lynching

  James Weldon Johnson, Sondra K. Wilson (1995). “The Selected Writings of James Weldon Johnson: Social, political, and literary essays”, p.352, Oxford University Press on Demand

  5 Copy quote

• 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, Voice, Joy

  James Weldon Johnson, Sondra K. Wilson (1995). “The Selected Writings of James Weldon Johnson: Social, political, and literary essays”, p.334, Oxford University Press on Demand

  8 Copy quote

• 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

  Race, White, People

  James Weldon Johnson (2012). “The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man”, p.80, Courier Corporation

  7 Copy quote

• And Satan smiled, stretched out his hand, and said, "O War, of all the scourges of humanity, I crown you chief.

  James Weldon Johnson

  War, Hands, Humanity

  James Weldon Johnson (2009). “Fifty years and Other Poems (EasyRead Large Edition)”, p.44, ReadHowYouWant.com

  4 Copy quote

• With his head in his hands, God thought and thought, Till he thought: I'll make me a man!

  James Weldon Johnson

  Men, Hands

  James Weldon Johnson (2000). “Complete Poems”, p.17, Penguin

  4 Copy quote

• So God stepped over to the edge of the world And He spat out the seven seas; He batted His eyes, and the lightnings flashed; He clapped His hands, and the thunders rolled; And the waters above the earth came down, The cooling waters came down.

  James Weldon Johnson

  Eye, Hands, Sea

  James Weldon Johnson (2000). “Complete Poems”, p.16, Penguin

  17 Copy quote

• Some men enjoy the constant strife Of days with work and worry rife, But that is not my dream of life: I think such men are crazy. For me, a life with worries few, A job of nothing much to do, Just pelf enough to see me through: I fear that I am lazy.

  James Weldon Johnson

  Dream, Jobs, Crazy

  James Weldon Johnson (2000). “Complete Poems”, p.131, Penguin

  4 Copy quote

• As I look back now I can see that I was a perfect little aristocrat.

  James Weldon Johnson

  Perfect, Aristocracy, Looks

  James Weldon Johnson (2012). “The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man”, p.3, Courier Corporation

  4 Copy quote

• The Southern whites are in many respects a great people. Looked at from a certain point of view, they are picturesque. If one will put oneself in a romantic frame of mind, one can admire their notions of chivalry and bravery and justice.

  James Weldon Johnson

  Romantic, Views, People

  James Weldon Johnson, Sondra K. Wilson (1995). “The Selected Writings of James Weldon Johnson: Social, political, and literary essays”, p.352, Oxford University Press on Demand

  8 Copy quote

• I thought of Paris as a beauty spot on the face of the earth, and of London as a big freckle.

  James Weldon Johnson

  Travel, Paris, Earth

  James Weldon Johnson, Sondra K. Wilson (1995). “The Selected Writings of James Weldon Johnson: Social, political, and literary essays”, p.330, Oxford University Press on Demand

  27 Copy quote

• There are a great many colored people who are ashamed of the cake-walk, but I think they ought to be proud of it.

  James Weldon Johnson

  Thinking, Cake, People

  James Weldon Johnson (2012). “The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man”, p.40, Courier Corporation

  8 Copy quote

• 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

  Teaching, Class, People

  James Weldon Johnson, Sondra K. Wilson (1995). “The Selected Writings of James Weldon Johnson: Social, political, and literary essays”, p.304, Oxford University Press on Demand

  29 Copy quote

• At a very early age I began to thump on the piano alone, and it was not long before I was able to pick out a few tunes? I also learned the names of the notes in both clefs, but I preferred not be hampered by notes.

  James Weldon Johnson

  Music, Names, Piano

  James Weldon Johnson, Sondra K. Wilson (1995). “The Selected Writings of James Weldon Johnson: Social, political, and literary essays”, p.276, Oxford University Press on Demand

  4 Copy quote

• My mother was kept very busy with her sewing; sometimes she would have another woman helping her.

  James Weldon Johnson

  Mother, Helping, Sometimes

  James Weldon Johnson (2012). “The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man”, p.11, Courier Corporation

  7 Copy quote

• I had enjoyed life in Paris, and, taking all things into consideration, enjoyed it wholesomely.

  James Weldon Johnson

  Paris, Consideration, All Things

  James Weldon Johnson (2011). “The Essential Writings of James Weldon Johnson”, p.160, Modern Library

  8 Copy quote

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