James Weldon JohnsonJames Weldon JohnsonAmerican Novelist, Poet, Autobiographer, American Novelist, Poet, Autobiographer, Historian and CriticHistorian and Critic

Johnson’s life, Johnson’s life, Activities, Activities, AccomplishmeAccomplishmentsnts

Short, exciting Short, exciting life...life...

Johnson’s LifeJohnson’s Life

Born in Jacksonville, Florida - 1871Born in Jacksonville, Florida - 1871

Attended grammar school in JacksonvilleAttended grammar school in Jacksonville

Went to Atlanta University for preparatory and Went to Atlanta University for preparatory and undergraduate studyundergraduate study

Returned to Jacksonville to principal and teachReturned to Jacksonville to principal and teach

Simultaneously pursued other careersSimultaneously pursued other careers

Died tragically in 1938Died tragically in 1938

Song and Dance TeamSong and Dance TeamBob Cole and James Weldon JohnsonBob Cole and James Weldon Johnson

Activities/Activities/Accomplishments: Accomplishments: 1894-19121894-1912Founder of the first public high school for Founder of the first public high school for

African Americans in FloridaAfrican Americans in Florida

Founder of one of the first black daily Founder of one of the first black daily newspapers: the Daily Americannewspapers: the Daily American

First African American lawyer admitted to the First African American lawyer admitted to the bar in his area of Floridabar in his area of Florida

Likely the first Floridian ever to compose an Likely the first Floridian ever to compose an operaopera

Served as US consulate in Venezuela - fluent in Served as US consulate in Venezuela - fluent in Spanish and FrenchSpanish and French

Served as US Consulate in Nicaragua, 1908Served as US Consulate in Nicaragua, 1908

Activities/Activities/Accomplishments 1912-Accomplishments 1912-19311931

Finishes and publishes Finishes and publishes Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Autobiography of an Ex-Colored ManMan

Joined the NAACPJoined the NAACP

Publishes Publishes Fifty Years and Other PoemsFifty Years and Other Poems

Serves as Executive Secretary of NAACP, 1920-1930Serves as Executive Secretary of NAACP, 1920-1930

Publishes Publishes The Book of American Negro PoetryThe Book of American Negro Poetry (poetry (poetry anthology)anthology)

Publishes Publishes God’s Trombones: Seven Negro Sermons in God’s Trombones: Seven Negro Sermons in VerseVerse (poetry) (poetry)

Re-publication of Re-publication of Autobiography of an Ex-Coloured ManAutobiography of an Ex-Coloured Man, , 19271927

Autobiography of an Ex-Autobiography of an Ex-Colored ManColored Man

Published anonymously in 1912Published anonymously in 1912

disassociation from controversydisassociation from controversy

gave credence to the fictional narratorgave credence to the fictional narrator

New Techniques used in the novelNew Techniques used in the novel

overthrows stereotypical black characteroverthrows stereotypical black character

first person narrativefirst person narrative

unreliable narratorunreliable narrator

vision of black life through irony rather than vision of black life through irony rather than propagandapropaganda

autobiography sad instead of proudautobiography sad instead of proud

ThemesThemesUnique toneUnique tone

passingpassing

moral cowardicemoral cowardice

materialitymateriality

condemnation of black lifecondemnation of black life

insecurityinsecurity

unfulfilled dreamsunfulfilled dreams

flight from confrontationflight from confrontation

destruction from withindestruction from within

Upcoming Upcoming Assignments/ActivitiesAssignments/Activities

October 9 - Recorded Session on final thoughts October 9 - Recorded Session on final thoughts on on Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man, Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man, and and Introduction to Harlem RenaissanceIntroduction to Harlem Renaissance

Assignment: Read Jean Toomer’s Assignment: Read Jean Toomer’s CaneCane

October 11 - Live Session on Breeze. Introduction October 11 - Live Session on Breeze. Introduction to Jean Toomer. Discuss poetry and short storiesto Jean Toomer. Discuss poetry and short stories

Assignment: Hughes and Hurston, take quiz Assignment: Hughes and Hurston, take quiz anytime before class on Tuesday, October 16anytime before class on Tuesday, October 16

October 16 - Student Presentation on Hughes, October 16 - Student Presentation on Hughes, Intro to HurstonIntro to Hurston