My+City

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My city, not just the place we call home, but a place that is a part of us. James Johnson’s city is New York. Having lived the majority of his life and watching the city develop; New York City was more than just home to Johnson. Through his simple modernist writing, he imagines all the great sensations the city has brought to him. He cannot imagine life without it.

Although James Johnson was born in Jacksonville, Florida, he spent the majority of his life in New York (Biography). After attending college in New York, Johnson stayed close for many years as he established his career. Unfortunately his career as a songwriter did not last long as Johnson was forced to move to several places including Venezuela and Nicaragua. Eventually Johnson returned to the city he loved to become an editor and poem writer. His newfound career quickly flourished but was abruptly when James died in a car accident while vacationing in Maine. However, James Johnson returned to the city he loved dearly and will forever remain there (Biography).

Furthermore, James loved expressing the joys of life given to him by his city. In New York James, Johnson published a book of poems entitled "50 Years and Other Poems" (Biography). His main poem "50 Years" celebrated the anniversary “Since God, through Lincoln's ready hand, Struck off our bonds and made us men” (Johnson). Just as in //My City//, James rejoiced the life he and other African Americans have. Another poem in the collection is named "The Creation". Similar to the other poems, Johnson writing gives a great feeling of excitement towards the creation of earth and mankind (Johnosn). With great passion and emotion, Johnson’s writings are considered modernist classics.

These classic poems contained many of the key characteristics that establish it as a poem from modernism. Most noticeable, all of Johnson’s poems contain a great imagery that is conveyed through simple speech and great emotions. For example, in "My City", Johnson states “when this bright world blurs in my fading sight” he refers to the lights of New York City that nearly everyone today has seen and can easily imagine (Johnson). In the second half of the statement, he is referring towards his death which obviously cannot be imagined. But he leaves the reader with the words “fading sight” which once again all can be imagined by the reader (Johnson). All of his poems, similar to this, provide the reader with great imagery that makes great poems.

Even though James did not publish "My City" during the Harlem Renaissance, as an African American man living in New York, he experienced the transition towards the era, which allowed his lifestyle to greatly influence his poem (Intro. to Modernism). With such a great passion for his city, Johnson could not help but feel overcome with all sort of emotions from this movement. The Harlem Renaissance in fact shaped New York into the beautiful place the James Johnson could not live without. With a background as such and a natural talent for writing poetry, James Johnson became a great modernist poet.

In his poetry and life, James Weldon Johnson was filled with the joy brought to him by his beloved city, and sought to share his feelings with the world. James brought these feeling out in each and every poem. He helped the reader feel the same by his great imagery and lively personality. James Johnson is a man with a great love for his city and he wants everyone to know about it!

Johnson, James W. "James Weldon Johnson." //The Eiffel Project Web Site//. Web. 03 May 2010. .

"James Weldon Johnson, 1871-1938 -- Biography." //University of South Carolina//. Web. 03 May 2010. .

// Introduction to Modernism //. Dir. John Langley. //Introduction to Modernism//. 2010. Web. 2 May 2010. <[]>.