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James Weldon Johnson Quotes

I’m lonely I’ll make me a world Picture Quote #1

But I must own that I also felt stirred by an unselfish desire to voice all the joys and sorrows, the hopes and ambitions, of the American Negro, in classic musical form Picture Quote #1

Northern white people love the Negro in a sort of abstract way, as a race; through a sense of justice, charity, and philanthropy, they will liberally assist in his elevation Picture Quote #1

The battle was first waged over the right of the Negro to be classed as a human being with a soul; later, as to whether he had sufficient intellect to master even the rudiments of learning; and today it is being fought out over his social recognition Picture Quote #1

Shortly after this I was made a member of the boys’ choir, it being found that I possessed a clear, strong soprano voice. I enjoyed the singing very much Picture Quote #1

Any musical person who has never heard a Negro congregation under the spell of religious fervor sing these old songs has missed one of the most thrilling emotions which the human heart may experience Picture Quote #1

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You are young, gifted, and Black. We must begin to tell our young, There’s a world waiting for you, Yours is the quest that’s just begun Picture Quote #1

When 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 Picture Quote #1

Amsterdam was a great surprise to me. I had always thought of Venice as the city of canals; it had never entered my mind that I should find similar conditions in a Dutch town Picture Quote #1

It is strange how in some things honest people can be dishonest without the slightest compunction Picture Quote #1

I thought of Paris as a beauty spot on the face of the earth, and of London as a big freckle Picture Quote #1

It’s no disgrace to be black, but it’s often very inconvenient Picture Quote #1

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As I look back now I can see that I was a perfect little aristocrat Picture Quote #1

She was my first love, and I loved her as only a boy loves Picture Quote #1

The colored people of this country know and understand the white people better than the white people know and understand them Picture Quote #1

The Southern whites are in many respects a great people. Looked at from a certain point of view, they are picturesque. If one will put oneself in a romantic frame of mind, one can admire their notions of chivalry and bravery and justice Picture Quote #1

And so for a couple of years my life was divided between my music and my school books Picture Quote #1

I do not see how a people that can find in its conscience any excuse whatever for slowly burning to death a human being, or for tolerating such an act, can be entrusted with the salvation of a race Picture Quote #1

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Labor is the fabled magician’s wand, the philosophers stone, and the cap of good fortune Picture Quote #1

My appearance was always good and my ability to play on the piano, especially ragtime, which was then at the height of its vogue, made me a welcome guest Picture Quote #1

My luck at the gambling table was varied; sometimes I was fifty to a hundred dollars ahead, and at other times I had to borrow money from my fellow workmen to settle my room rent and pay for my meals Picture Quote #1

My mother was kept very busy with her sewing; sometimes she would have another woman helping her Picture Quote #1

Shortly after this I was made a member of the boys choir, it being found that I possessed a clear, strong soprano voice. I enjoyed the singing very much Picture Quote #1

Every race and every nation should be judged by the best it has been able to produce, not by the worst Picture Quote #1

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... For me there lies, within the lights and shadows of your eyes, the only beauty that is never old Picture Quote #1

The glory of the day was in her face, the beauty of the night was in her eyes Picture Quote #1

It is a struggle; for though the black man fights passively, he nevertheless fights; and his passive resistance is more effective at present than active resistance could possibly be. He bears the fury of the storm as does the willow tree Picture Quote #1

I believe it to be a fact that the colored people of this country know and understand the white people better than the white people know and understand them Picture Quote #1

When one has seen something of the world and human nature, one must conclude, after all, that between people in like stations of life there is very little difference the world over Picture Quote #1

The peculiar fascination which the South held over my imagination and my limited capital decided me in favor of Atlanta University; so about the last of September I bade farewell to the friends and scenes of my boyhood and boarded a train for the South Picture Quote #1

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Friendship Quotes

Motivational Quotes

Inspirational Quotes

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Text Quotes

I’m lonely I’ll make me a world (James Weldon Johnson Quotes) But I must own that I also felt stirred by an unselfish desire to voice all the joys and sorrows, the hopes and ambitions, of the American Negro, in classic musical form. (James Weldon Johnson Quotes) Northern white people love the Negro in a sort of abstract way, as a race; through a sense of justice, charity, and philanthropy, they will liberally assist in his elevation. (James Weldon Johnson Quotes) The battle was first waged over the right of the Negro to be classed as a human being with a soul; later, as to whether he had sufficient intellect to master even the rudiments of learning; and today it is being fought out over his social recognition. (James Weldon Johnson Quotes) Shortly after this I was made a member of the boys’ choir, it being found that I possessed a clear, strong soprano voice. I enjoyed the singing very much. (James Weldon Johnson Quotes) Any musical person who has never heard a Negro congregation under the spell of religious fervor sing these old songs has missed one of the most thrilling emotions which the human heart may experience. (James Weldon Johnson Quotes) You are young, gifted, and Black. We must begin to tell our young, There’s a world waiting for you, Yours is the quest that’s just begun (James Weldon Johnson Quotes) When 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 Johnson Quotes) Amsterdam was a great surprise to me. I had always thought of Venice as the city of canals; it had never entered my mind that I should find similar conditions in a Dutch town (James Weldon Johnson Quotes) It is strange how in some things honest people can be dishonest without the slightest compunction (James Weldon Johnson Quotes) I thought of Paris as a beauty spot on the face of the earth, and of London as a big freckle (James Weldon Johnson Quotes) It’s no disgrace to be black, but it’s often very inconvenient (James Weldon Johnson Quotes) As I look back now I can see that I was a perfect little aristocrat (James Weldon Johnson Quotes) She was my first love, and I loved her as only a boy loves (James Weldon Johnson Quotes) The colored people of this country know and understand the white people better than the white people know and understand them (James Weldon Johnson Quotes) The Southern whites are in many respects a great people. Looked at from a certain point of view, they are picturesque. If one will put oneself in a romantic frame of mind, one can admire their notions of chivalry and bravery and justice (James Weldon Johnson Quotes) And so for a couple of years my life was divided between my music and my school books (James Weldon Johnson Quotes) I do not see how a people that can find in its conscience any excuse whatever for slowly burning to death a human being, or for tolerating such an act, can be entrusted with the salvation of a race (James Weldon Johnson Quotes) Labor is the fabled magician’s wand, the philosophers stone, and the cap of good fortune (James Weldon Johnson Quotes) My appearance was always good and my ability to play on the piano, especially ragtime, which was then at the height of its vogue, made me a welcome guest (James Weldon Johnson Quotes) My luck at the gambling table was varied; sometimes I was fifty to a hundred dollars ahead, and at other times I had to borrow money from my fellow workmen to settle my room rent and pay for my meals (James Weldon Johnson Quotes) My mother was kept very busy with her sewing; sometimes she would have another woman helping her (James Weldon Johnson Quotes) Shortly after this I was made a member of the boys choir, it being found that I possessed a clear, strong soprano voice. I enjoyed the singing very much (James Weldon Johnson Quotes) Every race and every nation should be judged by the best it has been able to produce, not by the worst (James Weldon Johnson Quotes) ... For me there lies, within the lights and shadows of your eyes, the only beauty that is never old (James Weldon Johnson Quotes) The glory of the day was in her face, the beauty of the night was in her eyes (James Weldon Johnson Quotes) It is a struggle; for though the black man fights passively, he nevertheless fights; and his passive resistance is more effective at present than active resistance could possibly be. He bears the fury of the storm as does the willow tree (James Weldon Johnson Quotes) I believe it to be a fact that the colored people of this country know and understand the white people better than the white people know and understand them (James Weldon Johnson Quotes) When one has seen something of the world and human nature, one must conclude, after all, that between people in like stations of life there is very little difference the world over (James Weldon Johnson Quotes) The peculiar fascination which the South held over my imagination and my limited capital decided me in favor of Atlanta University; so about the last of September I bade farewell to the friends and scenes of my boyhood and boarded a train for the South (James Weldon Johnson Quotes)

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