The Essential Writings of James Weldon Johnson

“A canonical collection, splendidly and sensitively edited by Rudolph Byrd.”<br>–Henry Louis Gates, Jr.<br><br>One of the leading voices of the Harlem Resaissance and a crucial literary figure of his time, James Weldon Johnson was also an editor, songwriter, founding member and leader of the NAACP, and the first African American to hold a diplomatic post as consul to Venezuela and Nicaragua. This comprehensive volume of Johnson’s works includes the seminal novel <i>Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man</i>, poems from <i>God’s Trombones</i>, essays on cultural and political topics, selections from Johnson’s autobiography, <i>Along This Way</i>, and two previously unpublished short plays: <i>Do You Believe in Ghosts?</i> and <i>The Engineer</i>. Featuring a chronology, bibliography, and a Foreword by acclaimed author Charles Johnson, this Modern Library edition showcases the tremendous range of James Weldon Johnson’s writings and their considerable influence on American civic and cultural life.<br><br>“This collection of poetry, fiction, criticism, autobiography, political writing and two unpublished plays by James Weldon Johnson (1871-1938) spans 60 years of pure triumph over adversity. [….Johnson’s] nobility, his inspiration shine forth from these pages, setting moral and artistic standards.” <b>—<i>Los Angeles Times</i><br></b>