Johnson and Dubois :: Comparative, Literary Analysis, African American L

Johnson and Dubois Many parallels can be drawn between the works of W.E.B. DuBois and those of crowd Weldon Johnson. Johnson was greatly influenced by many concepts created by DuBois, especially those presented in DuBoiss classic work The Souls of disastrous Folk. Johnson was so impressed with DuBois and his ideas that he sought him stunned in 1904 at Atlanta University. The two men developed a strong friendship and later worked for years together in the NAACP, Johnsons diplomatic temperment often match DuBoiss more than volitile one.* As Johnson developed his ideas about literature, he adopted the use of double consciousness the theme presented by DuBois in Souls of Black Folk. This theme was employ importantly in Johnsons Autobiography. Along with this theme he came to embrace the idea of racial distinctiveness theorized by DuBois. DuBois argues in his book that spiritual contributions are what African-Americans total to exsanguinous American culture.Johnsons ideas about bl ack distinctiveness within the frame of spirituality and creativity was strongly expressed in his poem O Black and unknown region Bards. This poems plays on the themes of protest with a celebration of black distinctiveness and creativity in regards to slave spirituals. Johnson argues in the poem that the slave spirituals provide conclusion of the genuineness of black literary independence, a nonher theme Johnson adopted from DuBois. Another poem by Johnson which reflects ideas from DuBois is The White Witch In this poem, Johnson warns of the seductive charms of the white jinx and is a militant call for African- Americans to preserve their heritage and distinctiveness. The images of white society brought forth by Johnson was very similar to those presented in DuBoiss Souls, where he also calls out to African-Americans not to be tempted and corrupted by white materialism.Johnson and Dubois Comparative, Literary Analysis, African American LJohnson and Dubois Many parallels can be drawn between the works of W.E.B. DuBois and those of James Weldon Johnson. Johnson was greatly influenced by many concepts created by DuBois, especially those presented in DuBoiss classic work The Souls of Black Folk. Johnson was so impressed with DuBois and his ideas that he sought him out in 1904 at Atlanta University. The two men developed a strong friendship and later worked for years together in the NAACP, Johnsons diplomatic temperment often balancing DuBoiss more volitile one.* As Johnson developed his ideas about literature, he adopted the use of double consciousness the theme presented by DuBois in Souls of Black Folk. This theme was used significantly in Johnsons Autobiography. Along with this theme he came to embrace the idea of racial distinctiveness theorized by DuBois. DuBois argues in his book that spiritual contributions are what African-Americans bring to white American culture.Johnsons ideas about black distinctiveness within the frame of spirituality and creativ ity was strongly expressed in his poem O Black and Unknown Bards. This poems plays on the themes of protest with a celebration of black distinctiveness and creativity in regards to slave spirituals. Johnson argues in the poem that the slave spirituals provide proof of the legitimacy of black literary independence, another theme Johnson adopted from DuBois. Another poem by Johnson which reflects ideas from DuBois is The White Witch In this poem, Johnson warns of the seductive charms of the white witch and is a militant call for African- Americans to preserve their heritage and distinctiveness. The images of white society brought forth by Johnson was very similar to those presented in DuBoiss Souls, where he also calls out to African-Americans not to be tempted and corrupted by white materialism.