The Essential Writings of James Weldon Johnson

A canonical collection splendidly and sensitively edited by Rudolph Byrd.Henry Louis Gates Jr.. 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 Johnsons works includes the seminal novel Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man poems from Gods Trombones essays on cultural and political topics selections from Johnsons autobiography Along This Way and two previously unpublished short plays: Do You Believe in Ghosts? and The Engineer. Featuring a chronology bibliography and a Foreword by acclaimed author Charles Johnson this Modern Library edition showcases the tremendous range of James Weldon Johnsons writings and their considerable influence on American civic and cultural life.. This collection of poetry fiction criticism autobiography political writing and two unpublished plays by James Weldon Johnson (1871-1938) spans 60 years of pure triumph over adversity. [.Johnsons] nobility his inspiration shine forth from these pages setting moral and artistic standards. Los Angeles Times