The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man by James Weldon Johnson
This is a Negro man's narrative. It's about his desire to
succeed in a society where the color of the skin is more important than
honesty or any other character value of life. As he journeys through
life from the North to the South in the United States, he faces a hard
dilemma. Should he choose to help his Negro brother fight a struggle to
prove himself human and intelligent, or should he fight only for himself
by making money, owning power and societal connections? He can always
say the choice was made for the good of his family.
When he sees a man burnt alive, he changes his name and grows a
mustache. Then, he goes back to New York. to make his living. The
autobiography is brilliantly put together whether you choose to despise
this man or choose to believe he was what he was, a flawed man who made
decisions that seemed right at the time for him. In the end, it's a
whole society being examined on the glass slide under the microscope and
not the life of just one man.
However, once a major decision is made about life it becomes a part of man. He must battle in the darkness. Did I do it right, or did I do it wrong? That is the question that haunts James Weldon Johnson until the end.
biography.com/people/james-weldon-johnson
However, once a major decision is made about life it becomes a part of man. He must battle in the darkness. Did I do it right, or did I do it wrong? That is the question that haunts James Weldon Johnson until the end.
To America
How would you have us, as we are?
Or sinking ‘neath the load we bear?
Our eyes fixed forward on a star?
Or gazing empty at despair?
Rising or falling? Men or things?
With dragging pace or footsteps fleet?
Strong, willing sinews in your wings?
Or tightening chains about your feet? http://www.poets.org
Or sinking ‘neath the load we bear?
Our eyes fixed forward on a star?
Or gazing empty at despair?
Rising or falling? Men or things?
With dragging pace or footsteps fleet?
Strong, willing sinews in your wings?
Or tightening chains about your feet? http://www.poets.org
biography.com/people/james-weldon-johnson
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