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 This Great God, Like a mammy bending over her baby, Kneeled down in the dust Toiling over a lump of clay Till He shaped it in His own image. James Weldon Johnson clay dust baby My appearance was always good and my ability to play on the piano, especially ragtime, which was then at the height of its vogue, made me a welcome guest. James Weldon Johnson height piano play 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 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 crazy dream jobs And Satan smiled, stretched out his hand, and said, "O War, of all the scourges of humanity, I crown you chief. James Weldon Johnson humanity war hands 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 When we arrived in London, my sadness at leaving Paris was turned into despair. After my long stay in the French capital, huge, ponderous, massive London seemed to me as ugly a thing as man could contrive to make. James Weldon Johnson paris sadness men My mother was kept very busy with her sewing; sometimes she would have another woman helping her. James Weldon Johnson mother helping sometimes The peculiar fascination which the South held over my imagination and my limited capital decided me in favor of Atlanta University; so about the last of September I bade farewell to the friends and scenes of my boyhood and boarded a train for the South. James Weldon Johnson atlanta farewell imagination 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 cake people thinking 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 As yet, the Negroes themselves do not fully appreciate these old slave songs. James Weldon Johnson slave appreciate song 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 piano music names The fortress inspired a tremendous confidence. It was the only propeller driven aircraft I have flown that was completely viceless; there were no undesirable flight characteristics. The directional stability was excellent and, properly trimmed, the B-17 could be taken off, landed and banked without change of trim. James Weldon Johnson aviation flight taken As I look back now I can see that I was a perfect little aristocrat. James Weldon Johnson aristocracy perfect looks Shortly after this I was made a member of the boys choir, it being found that I possessed a clear, strong soprano voice. I enjoyed the singing very much. James Weldon Johnson voice strong boys It is a struggle; for though the black man fights passively, he nevertheless fights; and his passive resistance is more effective at present than active resistance could possibly be. He bears the fury of the storm as does the willow tree. James Weldon Johnson man black struggle tree I believe it to be a fact that the colored people of this country know and understand the white people better than the white people know and understand them. James Weldon Johnson better white believe people Washington shows the Negro not only at his best, but also at his worst. James Weldon Johnson his only best worst
