AFAS 160

1. James Weldon Johnson
American Novelist, Poet, Autobiographer,
Historian and Critic

2. Johnson’s life,
Activities,
Accomplishme
nts
Short, exciting
life...

3. Johnson’s Life
Born in Jacksonville, Florida - 1871
Attended grammar school in Jacksonville
Went to Atlanta University for preparatory and
undergraduate study
Returned to Jacksonville to principal and teach
Simultaneously pursued other careers
Died tragically in 1938

4. Song and Dance Team
Bob Cole and James Weldon Johnson

5. Activities/Accomplishme
nts: 1894-1912 school for
Founder of the first public high
African Americans in Florida
Founder of one of the first black daily
newspapers: the Daily American
First African American lawyer admitted to the
bar in his area of Florida
Likely the first Floridian ever to compose an
opera
Served as US consulate in Venezuela - fluent in
Spanish and French

6. Activities/Accomplishme
nts 1912-1931
Finishes and publishes Autobiography of an Ex-Colored
Man
Joined the NAACP
Publishes Fifty Years and Other Poems
Serves as Executive Secretary of NAACP, 1920-1930
Publishes The Book of American Negro Poetry (poetry
anthology)
Publishes God’s Trombones: Seven Negro Sermons in
Verse (poetry)
Re-publication of Autobiography of an Ex-Coloured
Man, 1927

7. Autobiography of an ExColored Man
Published anonymously in 1912
disassociation from controversy
gave credence to the fictional narrator
New Techniques used in the novel
overthrows stereotypical black character
first person narrative
unreliable narrator
vision of black life through irony rather than
propaganda
autobiography sad instead of proud

8. Themes
Unique tone
passing
moral cowardice
materiality
condemnation of black life
insecurity
unfulfilled dreams
flight from confrontation
destruction from within

9. Upcoming
Assignments/Activities
October 9 - Recorded Session on final thoughts
on Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man, and
Introduction to Harlem Renaissance
Assignment: Read Jean Toomer’s Cane
October 11 - Live Session on Breeze.
Introduction to Jean Toomer. Discuss poetry
and short stories
Assignment: Hughes and Hurston, take quiz
anytime before class on Tuesday, October 16
October 16 - Student Presentation on Hughes,
Intro to Hurston

10. Upcoming
Assignments/Activities
October 9 - Recorded Session on final thoughts
on Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man, and
Introduction to Harlem Renaissance
Assignment: Read Jean Toomer’s Cane
October 11 - Live Session on Breeze.
Introduction to Jean Toomer. Discuss poetry
and short stories
Assignment: Hughes and Hurston, take quiz
anytime before class on Tuesday, October 16
October 16 - Student Presentation on Hughes,
Intro to Hurston