James Weldon Johnson: A Life Well Used
Early Life
James Weldon Johnson was born June 17th, 1871, in Jacksonville, Florida. His mother, Helen Louise Dillet, was a teacher in a grammar school, and the first African American female teacher in Florida. Johnson was heavily influenced by his mother's love for English literature, and grew up in a household that had an intense focus on reading and writing. When he was only 16, he was enrolled at Atlanta University, and he graduated in 1894. In 1904, he was given an honorary master's degree. Johnson was also a prominent member of the Phi Beta Sigma fraternity.
Teaching and Journalism
In the summer of 1891, Johnson went to Georgia to teach children whose parents had been slaves. After he graduated, Johnson went to Stanton where he became the principal of a school for African American students. Although, he still faced racism in his career, as he received less that half of white colleagues who held the same position with the same experience as him. After adding numerous improvements to the school, Johnson resigned from his position. In 1895, Johnson began a newspaper called the Daily American. The magazine's purpose was to educate African Americans, but financial problems limited the newspaper.
Singing and Songwriting
With the help of his brother, John Rosamund, Johnson worked on a musical theater together. Soon, Johnson was inspired to begin writing song lyrics while his brother wrote the music. Together, they collaborated on "Lift Every Voice and Sing", which became known as the African American anthem. The brothers teamed up with Bob Cole to write songs, and the trio moved to New York to pursue musical success. Johnson quickly became disgusted with the African music stereotypes, and went back to school in 1903.
Diplomacy, Novels, and Marriage
He enrolled in Columbia University, and began taking graduate courses. Johnson was then offered a position in Venezuela, where he had time to work on his novels and poetry. In 1907, one year later, he was transferred to Nicaragua, where he met and married Grace Nail. He wrote and published The Autobiography of an Ex-Coloured Man in 1912, while still living in Nicaragua. Johnson resigned from his consulship in 1913, and returned to the U.S. with his wife, Grace Nail.
Poetry
Upon his return to the U.S, Johnson became an editor for the New York Age, and in 1917, he published his first collection of poems. Fifty Years and Other Poems received tons of praise from critics and readers alike. His second collection, of poetry, God's Trombones: Seven Negro Sermons in Verse, was published in 1927. Johnson continued writing poetry The Book of American Negro Poetry (1922), The Book of American Negro Spirituals (1925), and The Second Book of Negro Spirituals(1926).
Death
On June 26th, 1938, Johnson died when a train crashed into the car he was driving. The accident was tragic, and James Weldon Johnson died at only 68 years old.
Early Life
James Weldon Johnson was born June 17th, 1871, in Jacksonville, Florida. His mother, Helen Louise Dillet, was a teacher in a grammar school, and the first African American female teacher in Florida. Johnson was heavily influenced by his mother's love for English literature, and grew up in a household that had an intense focus on reading and writing. When he was only 16, he was enrolled at Atlanta University, and he graduated in 1894. In 1904, he was given an honorary master's degree. Johnson was also a prominent member of the Phi Beta Sigma fraternity.
Teaching and Journalism
In the summer of 1891, Johnson went to Georgia to teach children whose parents had been slaves. After he graduated, Johnson went to Stanton where he became the principal of a school for African American students. Although, he still faced racism in his career, as he received less that half of white colleagues who held the same position with the same experience as him. After adding numerous improvements to the school, Johnson resigned from his position. In 1895, Johnson began a newspaper called the Daily American. The magazine's purpose was to educate African Americans, but financial problems limited the newspaper.
Singing and Songwriting
With the help of his brother, John Rosamund, Johnson worked on a musical theater together. Soon, Johnson was inspired to begin writing song lyrics while his brother wrote the music. Together, they collaborated on "Lift Every Voice and Sing", which became known as the African American anthem. The brothers teamed up with Bob Cole to write songs, and the trio moved to New York to pursue musical success. Johnson quickly became disgusted with the African music stereotypes, and went back to school in 1903.
Diplomacy, Novels, and Marriage
He enrolled in Columbia University, and began taking graduate courses. Johnson was then offered a position in Venezuela, where he had time to work on his novels and poetry. In 1907, one year later, he was transferred to Nicaragua, where he met and married Grace Nail. He wrote and published The Autobiography of an Ex-Coloured Man in 1912, while still living in Nicaragua. Johnson resigned from his consulship in 1913, and returned to the U.S. with his wife, Grace Nail.
Poetry
Upon his return to the U.S, Johnson became an editor for the New York Age, and in 1917, he published his first collection of poems. Fifty Years and Other Poems received tons of praise from critics and readers alike. His second collection, of poetry, God's Trombones: Seven Negro Sermons in Verse, was published in 1927. Johnson continued writing poetry The Book of American Negro Poetry (1922), The Book of American Negro Spirituals (1925), and The Second Book of Negro Spirituals(1926).
Death
On June 26th, 1938, Johnson died when a train crashed into the car he was driving. The accident was tragic, and James Weldon Johnson died at only 68 years old.