One of the leading voices of the Harlem Renaissance and a crucial literary figure of his time, James Weldon Johnson was also an editor, songwriter, founding member and leader of the NAACP, and the first African American to hold a diplomatic post as consul to Venezuela and Nicaragua. This comprehensive volume of Johnson’s works includes the seminal novel Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man, poems from God’s Trombones, essays on cultural and political topics, selections from Johnson’s autobiography, Along This Way, and two previously unpublished short plays: Do You Believe in Ghosts? and The Engineer. Featuring a chronology, bibliography, and a Foreword by acclaimed author Charles Johnson, this Modern Library edition showcases the tremendous range of James Weldon Johnson’s writings and their considerable influence on American civic and cultural life.

Portrait of James Weldon Johnson / --James Weldon Johnson : a chronology -- Do you believe in ghosts? -- The engineer -- The autobiography of an ex-coloured man -- Sence you went away -- Lift every voice and sing -- Fifty years -- The creation -- Noah built the ark -- The Judgment Day -- Saint Peter relates an incident of the resurrection day -- Native African races and culture -- The dilemma of the Negro author -- Race prejudice and the Negro artist -- Selections from Along this way -- Negro Americans, what now? Portrait of James Weldon Johnson / Michael S. Harper -- James Weldon Johnson : a chronology -- Drama. Do you believe in ghosts? -- The engineer -- Fiction. The autobiography of an ex-coloured man -- Poetry. Sence you went away -- Lift every voice and sing -- Fifty years -- The creation -- Noah built the ark -- The Judgment Day -- Saint Peter relates an incident of the resurrection day -- Cultural criticism. Native African races and culture -- The dilemma of the Negro author -- Race prejudice and the Negro artist -- Autobiography. Selections from Along this way -- Political writing. Negro Americans, what now?.