It’s no disgrace to be black, but it’s often very inconvenient. James Weldon Johnson More Quotes by James Weldon Johnson More Quotes From James Weldon Johnson Any musical person who has never heard a Negro congregation under the spell of religious fervor sing these old songs has missed one of the most thrilling emotions which the human heart may experience. James Weldon Johnson religious heart song In the life of everyone there is a limited number of experiences which are not written upon the memory, but stamped there with a die; and in the long years after, they can be called up in detail, and every emotion that was stirred by them can be lived through anew; these are the tragedies of life. James Weldon Johnson numbers memories years I'm lonely I'll make me a world. James Weldon Johnson im-lonely lonely world O Black and unknown bards of long ago, How came your lips to touch the sacred fire? James Weldon Johnson long-ago music fire 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 lynching race names 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 lynching race country 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 venice cities mind It is from the blues that all that may be called American music derives it most distinctive characteristics. James Weldon Johnson characteristics music may 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 paris london cities 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 may thinking She was my first love, and I loved her as only a boy loves. James Weldon Johnson first-love boys firsts I had enjoyed life in Paris, and, taking all things into consideration, enjoyed it wholesomely. James Weldon Johnson consideration paris all-things 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 views romantic people My luck at the gambling table was varied; sometimes I was fifty to a hundred dollars ahead, and at other times I had to borrow money from my fellow workmen to settle my room rent and pay for my meals. James Weldon Johnson gambling meals luck 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 voice ambition joy In Berlin I especially enjoyed the orchestral concerts, and I attended a large number of them. I formed the acquaintance of a good many musicians, several of whom spoke of my playing in high terms. James Weldon Johnson good-man musician numbers I thought of Paris as a beauty spot on the face of the earth, and of London as a big freckle. James Weldon Johnson paris earth travel And so for a couple of years my life was divided between my music and my school books. James Weldon Johnson couple book school 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 sea hands With his head in his hands, God thought and thought, Till he thought: I'll make me a man! James Weldon Johnson men hands
