Book Description
This collection of writings offers a glimpse into the minds of three N.A.A.C.P. leaders who occupied the center of black thought and action during some of the most troublesome and pivotal times of the civil rights movement. The volume delineates fifty-seven years of the N.A.A.C.P.'s program under the successive direction of James Weldon Johnson, Walter White, and Roy Wilkins. These writings illustrate the vital roles of these three leaders in building a peoples liberation, underscoring not only their progressive influence throughout their time in power, but also a vision of the future as race relations enter the 21st Century. Much of the material, notably "The Secretary's Reports to the Board," is published here for the first time, offering an invaluable resource for those seeking a deeper knowledge of the history of race in America ... Read more

Book Description
This selection of more than forty poems from a leading figure of the Harlem Renaissance includes both uncompromising indictments of racial injustice and celebrations of the triumphs of African-Americans.

With a Preface by Sondra Kathryn Wilson

"[Johnson's poetry] is an exhortation to loose the bonds of dreary second-class citizenship and humiliating segregation and devastating racism. The lyrics bid the reader to be free, to walk with gratitude over ground red with the blood of our ancestors; encourages us to be free to bid the day good morning with hopeful heart, to adore the Creator with gladsome hearts for the battles won and to ask of that same Creator for strength for the battles yet to come. James Weldon Johnson aptly, deeply, with love and humor and a powerful rhyming tongue, has told our story and sung our song."-- Maya Angelou ... Read more

Amazon.com
This illustrated edition of Johnson's 1919 poem, which won the 1995 Coretta Scott King Award, brings the story of Creation down to earth and into the grasp of young children. Alternating with the poetry are richly expressive double-page spreads and attractive border elements that feature animal motifs and scenes from The Beginning--light, earth, water, plants, animals and lastly, a ruddy, clay-colored human rising out of a field of flowers. An illustrated sub-plot of an animated storyteller relating the Creation story before a group of enthralled children relieves the poem its relative predictability and offers a friendly stand-in for the role of God. It also hints at the importance of human participation, itself sacred and timeless. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

A JOYFUL RENDITION OF JOHNSON'S POEM

As many know, James Weldon Johnson's splendid word poem based on the creation became the throbbing, joyful musical "God's Trombones."

As illustrated by James E. Ransome, this book is a grateful rendering of that verse brilliantly brought to life by oil paintings that reflect the spirit of the text.

Capturing the imagery and rhythm of southern black sermons in the mid 1800's the words ring with the regional cadences of folk stories.Seldom have words and illustrations complemented each other more.

Wonderful Sunday School dramatization
I teach PreK/K Sunday School. I found this book at the library and what a find it was!! It provided a wonderful visual inspiration as a stimulus for the introduction of our Creation unit. We combined classes and set up a campfire setting and began in the dark, just as the book does. As I read with great intonnations, the other teacher reenacted each scene with props and materials. We also gave the children the opportunity to use the materials to reenact this beautiful, lyrical, and inspirational story. We completed our lesson with snacks based on the story. It is truly a spiritually moving book that creates its own majestry, in the beauty of the illustrations and the strength of the text!!! It is a must have for a home and church library!!!

A "Must Have" For A Family Library
When I was in the eighth grade, my counselor suggested "The Creation" as a selection for me to read in the UIL Oral Readingcompetition. I didn't win the competition, but I fell in love with thepoetry of James Weldon Johnson. I was delighted to see a qualitypicture-book version of this colorful, winning account of the creationstory. Perhaps the most wonderful thing about Johnson's approach is that hemakes God appear "personal" rather than "human". Hispoetry seems to share God's heart, and captivates the reader and listeneralike. The story-telling nature of his poems remind me of Rudyard Kipling's"Just So Stories", which I also treasure. I highly recommend thisbook. ... Read more

Book Description
These two volumes of writings represent Johnson's experiences as one of black America's premier civil rights statesmen, and leader, participant, and historian of the Black Literary Movement of the 1920s. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

acceptable for its targeted audience
This book is for very young readers to learn about Mr. Weldon Johnson.The photos are huge and the text rather simple, as it should be for its audience.The work begins with the creation of "Lift Every Voice," rather than JWJ's birth.It contextualizes his life and activism by speaking of the Reconstruction and Jim Crow segregation.It mentions praiseworthy facts such as his becoming the first Black member of Florida's bar and writing two autobiographies.Grittier topics like his thinking he wasn't Black as a youth, his absence from his birth father and sister, and his possible bisexuality are not brought up.This book would be a good text for younger students who have to give speeches in class during Black History Month. ... Read more

Product Description
418 Pagers of Text and Photographs ... Read more

Book Description

Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us,
Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us.

Customer Reviews (1)

habu, man with a past, investigates a murder
What happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object?In this case our antihero, habu, gets on the wrong side of a man high in the planetary gov't--a man with a reason to personally hate habu, once hediscovers his secret history.In a culture where life is easily prolongedif 1) you can come up with the money and if 2) you're willing to move to afrontier world with a new identity after rejuvenation, settling old scoresisn't easy.However, habu's past is marked by a past history ofecological-turnabout-is-fairplay.In fact, he once rendered an entireplanet uninhabitable by introducing the snake from which he got his name. Habu comes to investigate the murder of a long-time friend, but winds uppitting himself against powerful forces in the planetary gov't--which sidewill break first? ... Read more

Book Description
This collection of 65 poems, read by professional actors, demonstrates the remarksble talent of James Weldon Johnson.It ranks with Johnson's acclaimed novel "The Autobiography of An Ex-Colored Man" (a MasterBuy selection) and his enduring "Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing", called by many the African-American National Hymn (recorded in MasterBuy's "Seven Family Kwanzaa Programs").

The poems range over a number of Johnson's interests: the intriguing beauty of the tropics; the "sorrow songs" rough hewn wisdom; the intoxicating effect of romance; dialect poems that provide insightful yet amusing truths.There are also other poems here, such as the brilliant "And The Greatest Of These Is War." ("O'Black and Unknown Bards" originally was published under the title of "Fifty Years"). ... Read more

Book Description
The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man was written by James Weldon Johnson who was an important 20th century author, journalist and poet. As one of the early American civil rights leaders he became a major figure in the Harlem Renaissance. This classic publication is James Weldon Johnson's autobiography, and is an excellent resource for those learning about the earliest days of the civil rights movement and a classic tale of how an individual can overcome and achieve what they set their mind to. ... Read more