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 JohnsonI had enjoyed life in Paris, and, taking all things into consideration, enjoyed it wholesomely.
James Weldon JohnsonO Black and unknown bards of long ago, How came your lips to touch the sacred fire?
James Weldon JohnsonWhen 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 JohnsonIn the life of everyone there is a limited number of experiences which are not written upon the memory, but stamped there with a die; and in the long years after, they can be called up in detail, and every emotion that was stirred by them can be lived through anew; these are the tragedies of life.
James Weldon Johnson