James Weldon Johnson - African American Author

African American Literature covers every genre of writing. Probably the main reason for this is the fact that everyone has a story. The African American’s story is one of a strong people carving out a life in probably the most impossible circumstances ever recorded in the history of nations. Therefore, his literature chronicles the steps of a people from the slave ships, to a time of slavery showing the cruel oppression of one human to another, to the trickle of enlightenment from the one-room schools, and finally to the explosive years of the sixties. Each generation produced writers who assayed to tell the story of the sojourn of the African in America. Some writers attempted to discover the roots of a people left out of the history books, and when briefly included it was in a degrading way. Alex Haley’s research did not remedy the problem of racial identity but it did show the nations that African Americans have a proud history.

African American Literature contains the work of numerous artisans, novelists, poets, and musicians who wrote of the general culture of the American Negro (one of many names we have been called). James Weldon Johnson spoke about the contributions that the Negro has made to America as quite obvious.

Johnson said, “…his contribution of labor and their importance,
more or less, has long been recognized. But the idea of his being
a generous contributor to the common cultural store and vital
force to the formation of American civilization was a new
approach to the race question.

In speaking of James Weldon Johnson’s work it would be remiss of me not to mention two of his works, The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man, and, Lift Every Voice; I suppose any African American over forty have at least heard of this poem/song.
There are many early writers but this is not the time nor place to try to bring to your remembrance them all. However, we must not forget Lincoln’s Proclamation of Independence for the slaves; and how they received the news. The work of Ralph Ellison, Invisible Man and Juneteenth,is enlightening how these works came about, and how they speak to the heart of a people living as strangers in a land so far from home. A line from a Negro Spiritual says it all,
“Sometimes I feel like a motherless child, a long ways from home.”

African American literature tells of many giants before Johnson such as; Frederick Douglass, and W.E.B. Du Bois. As you know, Du Bois was the first African American to receive the Ph.D degree from Harvard.

These and many other firsts are recorded in African American Literature.

African American Literature is replete with writers of each century from the time we were packed in the belly of ships whose cargo consisted of rum and slaves. We would be hard-pressed to determine what or who was most important to the owners and clientele. The generation of the 19th century African American writers and artists produced a myriad of emotional works. Some brought tears of sadness to our hearts reminding us of the cruel road we had traveled and still had not found that Promise Land, way over yonder our fore parents sang about so fervently. Not all the history is tear-stained. Some brings one to outbursts of “belly laughter.” For instance, there is Langston Hughes’ stories of a character he called Simple. I suppose some of us can relate to the ups and downs of similar characters that have crossed our paths. Or perhaps we have had our own “simple” moments at various times. Richard Wright tells of his life in the story, Black Boy. This story gives a raw glimpse of life in the Deep South for African Americans. The reader is tossed along experiencing many emotions, sometimes anger, sometimes sadness, and sometimes a yearning to do something to change things more speedily. As some have said we cannot keep waiting for our change to come. We have waited, and waited and then waited some more while others came to the fountain of life and somehow drank deeply from the fresh, clean waters of opportunity. Waiting patiently has not been all bad when we look at the color of the White House today, there is an undeniable hint of color.

Self improvement books such as the bible teaches that the spiritual part of us is actually the control center of our being—if we allow it to have free course. It determines whether we do constructive things if led by the Holy Spirit, or destructive things if led by an evil spirit. On the other hand if we allow the physical body to control, we will find ourselves being tossed about as the bible states, or to and fro by every wind of doctrine. In laymen’s language we will find ourselves believing everything anyone says. One of the keys to improving one’s self is discipline, that is, nobody else can do it for us, we have to do it ourselves. In other words we have to take charge of our lives and discipline ourselves.

Self improvement books teach that change comes in our lives when we change our mind set. The bible teaches that, “As a man thinks so is he,” Some of us have been devastated by the negative prophecy that has been spoken over our lives ever since we were able to understand, “You ain’t never gonna be nothin,’ you jest like yore ole no good daddy.” That type of prophecy will eventually be fulfilled unless you begin to apply the wisdom found in selected self improvement books. Knowing that you are who God says you are is a good place to start living an overcoming life. God says he made the earth and all that dwell in it. When he finished with his creation process he stepped back and surveyed it, then said, “That’s good.” In that case we are good and have possibilities to do amazing things in the world. It is not impossible to turn things around and become an over-comer.

Self improvement books can lead us to break the cycle of just aimlessly walking through the earth. Eventually, this kind of existence results in turning us into thoughtless, uninspired creatures living to perform only the most basic functions; eating, sleeping, and making occasional conjugal stops along the way. Life has much more to offer us than just barely getting by living on the outer fringes never quite making a difference. The bible encourages us that, “We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.” Many times we toss aside promises such as this rationalizing that it doesn’t make sense; how can he say I can do all things if I do it in his strength. Try it and see if you can really do all things through Christ. Starting now take the holiest of all self improvement books, and find all the promises he makes to you and me. Now, I must warn you there is a condition required to make this and his other promises come to pass. I can hear you say, “I knew there was a ‘catch’ to this.” Not so fast, it is quite simple. He says all you have to do is obey him. This is the great promise to get a hold of. If you find that you have a problem with obedience just ask him to give it to you. He promises something else, and it is this, “You can have anything you say when you pray.” And anything means anything.

Joseph in the pit when his brothers sold him as a slave

Inspirational stories are probably one of the most familiar teachers of life lessons. One reason is that we know the characters are ordinary people just as we are. It is inspiring to know that one truly can find himself in the pit of life and get rescued in a way unimaginable. Joseph, (a teenager in the Bible found in Genesis), is not the only human to find himself in the pit. On some occasions during our lifetime we have found ourselves forgotten and left to “sink or swim.” Like Joseph, we too were betrayed and abandoned by our own family or close “friends.” The lessons we learned during these times of failures due, in a large part, to the foolish choices we made somewhere along the way are priceless. They are priceless in many ways but in particular how much these lessons cost us—bought sense is painful and costly.

Inspirational stories save us the trouble of learning life’s lessons the hard way. Many of us know that life can be a harsh schoolmaster. An administrator I knew once would say quite often: Observe other people and learn from their mistakes. Do not try to make all your own mistakes. Learn vicariously… watch others. If it is a bad example simply say to yourself, “I will not do that.” On the other hand, if it is a productive, well thought out plan say within your heart, “That’s good, I will follow that example.”

Inspirational stories can be found just about any place and they are not all written in books and magazines. The apostle Paul, (a preacher who wrote most of the New Testament) states that our lives are epistles, or letters, that are read daily by people. Then, all of our life stories are not necessarily written on paper, but they are written each day by the work we do. The work we do speaks loudly of who we truly are. An example of a walking inspirational story is Mother Teresa. Her life and ideals makes her a living legend.

Inspirational stories sometimes depict a person making an unusual sacrifice in the midst of almost impossible circumstances. There are two persons that come to mind; one, a great musician/singer, the other activist/lecturer. Both of these persons became inspirations by overcoming obstacles that could not be fixed by the miracle of medicine and science. They are Ray Charles and Helen Keller. Both inspired people by their sheer audacity in refusing to allow very real obstacles become handicaps to living a productive, full life.

Inspirational stories cannot be discussed without mentioning Jesus Christ. I suppose of all the people on earth his was a life of giving, sacrificing, loving and turning lives around. His doctrine was love even for the person who made it clear they did now, or ever in the future plan to return His love or ours. It is inspiring reading stories how He spent His time proving what a powerful weapon love is. Jesus had a very short time to show the world how to influence and love people. He had only thirty-three years whereas, we have an entire lifetime.

Taylor Caldwell - Christian Novel Author

Christian novels provide a look at life using the genre of fiction. Creating stories about life’s ups and downs set in a fictionalized mode allows the author the freedom to manipulate the outcome at will. Contrariwise, the reader is free to let his imagination soar and roam over the sky for height and finally to descend to the bottom of a fathomless ocean for depth. Christian novels are unique in that the author, as with other fiction writers, has the unusual privilege to take the reader into created perils and on the brink of near disaster of the characters at will. The only limit is the author’s imagination. However, there is the opportunity for the writer of Christian novels to get into the message of showing that good indeed does win over evil.

Christian novels are by no means a substitute for daily, systematic, bible reading and meditation. However, we must face the sad fact that not everyone sits and read the bible everyday. In light of that knowledge, Christian novels can act as a catalyst toward stirring a desire in the reader to seek the words of life. Readers looking at life through the eyes of the Christian novelist can temporarily escape the harsh realities of their own world. The Christian novels from the twentieth century to the present twenty first century offers much more than an easy ride into the dreamy never, never land of ghosts, headless demons, and snow white angels that disappear at the first sign of the sun’s revealing brilliance.

In my repertoire of Christian novels, I can say that some have left an indelible mark on my psyche. To name a few are the writings of Taylor Caldwell’s Dear and Glorious Physician; Thomas B. Costain’s The Silver Chalice; and probably casting me into much critical thinking is, Frank Yerby’s Judas, My Brother. The above Christian novels gave me historical facts with a more humanized view. Sometimes the purely historical books are unadorned facts (as they should be) therefore the everyday sweat and “nitty gritty” of real life is missing.

Christian novels can weave a story with characters that face real problems just as we do. Often we find ourselves charmed to walk with them through the highs and lows of their fictional escapades similar to the magic of the Pied Piper as he charmed the children to follow him. The author’s skill at narration can have the reader on the edge of the seat, with bated breath anxious to see if the protagonist wins. Finally, in the end the perpetrator is caught in a web of his own weaving where he receives a much deserved punishment. Seeing the good, the bad, and the ugly all coming to a deserved end gives the reader a feeling of exhilaration. Even though it is just fiction, or make-believe, it gives one hope in mankind. Maybe there is a chance that the fiction found in Christian novels could become truth and good actually wins over evil.

Christian novels have the potential to pique the non-reader’s mind in a way that the purely fictional books cannot. It would seem that the reluctant reader can become attached to reading through Christian novels and eventually enjoy reading. Christian novels are not the dripping, sugary, sweet senseless, writing of someone looking at the world through rose-colored glasses. Many Christian novels are fast paced, action-packed, tales of life and of the future with a story line worth our time and attention.

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Motivational Books can prove to be just the “shot-in-the-arm” that will get us through dark valley days. Those valley days can come so suddenly that the story of Job (a book in the bible) becomes more than a “nice Sunday story” for weak people. You know you are not weak, but the Job syndrome has struck at your house; the spouse is restless and threatening to defect; the children have discovered new “friends” who have shown them that there is more to school than studying, turning in assignments, and obeying adults; the job you thought you would retire from packed up overnight and moved to a place that you can’t pronounce, or spell. These are things you can hardly look to your friends for comfort and wisdom, when you tried that you found that they had problems too.

Out of all the motivational books available the bible tops the list as to its success in guiding people through the rough times and bringing them out more than conquerors. In my young adult days I found a book, along with the bible, that encouraged me when I found myself on the brink of giving up. Dr. Norman Vincent Peale’s book, The Power of Positive Thinking showed me how to change my way of thinking. From the bible I found the scripture that declared, as a man/woman thinks so is he/she.

There are motivational books for just about every situation we can find ourselves in. Men and women from many different walks of life have seen fit to share the wisdom they gleaned from changing their way of thinking. They seemed to have gotten a hold of the bible principle that states, “You can have whatever you say.” That principle seems so easy it can be unbelievable. I don’t claim to know the dynamics of the principle. I do know that if we speak positive words somehow they come to pass, in like manner so do our negative words. Looking back I can think of some negative times in my life. I remember saying, if I didn’t say it I thought it, “Around the middle of the month I am always out of money.” Well, let me assure you this is exactly what happened, the months had more days than I had money. I should admit one other factor; I did not tithe at that time either.

Motivational Books offer not only encouragement for one to get up and try again. Probably most importantly these motivational books are testimonials of real people. Some have experienced anguish, shame and failure such as ending up living on the streets living out of soup kitchens. Thank God for the soup kitchens. Motivational books expose us to an entirely different way of looking at life. We are made aware that there is such a thing known as ‘people skills’ without such we can ruin a potential business deal by our lack of knowing how to finesse. I suppose at this juncture the axiom; “Loose lips sink ships” could be employed here. Finally, God has the last words and they are, “But I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the Day of Judgment. For by thy words thou shall be justified, and by thy words thou shall be condemned. Matthew 12: 36-37.

1. doctrine
2. reproof
3. correction
4. instruction in righteousness

Christian books usually clarify the above four principles and many other teachings of the bible. Doctrine is a belief system that a group of people choose to govern their lives by. Throughout the ages I suppose we could say that almost every generation has altered the previous doctrine, or the doctrine of their elders, to fit their own interpretation of the “modern” way of doing things. We are warned by the bible about that very thing, it is a warning about the dangers of leaning to one’s on understanding. Jesus Christ espoused the doctrine of love. In Jesus’ doctrine of love there are ideals that go against the “grain” of what we as humans believe to be fair and just. Some ideals he set forth near the top of the list of his doctrine of love are things like; turning the other cheek, loving those that hate you, love your neighbor as yourself, and I suppose the most outrageous thing about the doctrine of walking in love is the command for one not to seek revenge. He says he will handle the job of avenging. The civil rights movement of the sixties gave us a first hand look at the doctrine of love in action. Dr. King and his followers chose to walk in love instead of fighting the enemy in their own human power. Keep in mind the last verse Judges:

“In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.”

There we have a picture of chaos. When all of us can do what ever we think is right, all I have to say is what the youngsters say, “It’s time to get out of Dodge.”

Christian books through reproof attempt to show us the problems and difficulties we bring on ourselves when we determine, either through ignorance or rebellion, to live outside of God’s principles. Reproof is having the courage to, as the youth would put it, get in the person’s face and declare, “You are wrong brother/sister.” A little word of warning here, we cannot take the splinter out of our brother’s/sister’s eye with a plank in our own. Jesus further explains that the blind can’t lead the blind, or both will fall in the ditch. Giving reproof or getting someone else to straighten up requires that we are straight. There was a song in the fifties that advised a wayward lover to “Straighten-up and fly right.” With the warning signs of earthquakes in diverse places, global warming, wars and rumors of wars, maybe we all should straighten-up and fly right just in case those people who are predicting that the end will come in 2012 are right, (I don’t know how they know that, when Jesus says he doesn’t even know). However, it would be a tragedy to awaken one day and all of these signs are happening before your eyes, and you realize that it’s too late.

Finally, Christian Books give correction and instruction in righteousness. The wisest man to have lived on this earth has this to say:

“…but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Proverbs 1:7b

And he further warns:

“A fool despises his father’s instruction: but he that regards

Reproof is prudent.” Proverbs 15: 5

It is good to remain teachable. We can learn from anyone even if they are wrong we can then learn don’t do that.

Black Authors have been recording the history of their sojourn in the United States ever since they were placed on an auction block as some odd spectacle to be held in derision. Sometimes the stories will make you laugh and cry seemingly at the same time. For example; Langston Hughes’ tales of Jessie B. Simple is one that will bring those mixed emotions. While perusing the day to day issues in the life of Jessie B. Simple you will find yourself laughing and crying, sometimes at the same time.

Black Authors, sometimes in there musing and times of reflections, allow their writing to ask some hard questions. The question that Sojourner Truth asks is on the surface quite simple. She wants to know, ”Ain’t I a woman?” Or, Tell Me How Long the Train’s Been Gone? James Baldwin’s fourth novel first published in 1968. Sometimes there is a cry from the soul seeking direction, and the question is, “Where do we go from here?”

Sometimes Black Authors are not in the questioning mode but like a modern day computer they open up a menu for us to choose our truth or battle for the day. Terri McMillan posed the issue of Waiting to Exhale. The author, after several scenarios, makes the reader wonder will life ever allow one to breathe easily.

Black Authors give the reader a look at life from the soul of the poet. A few of these poets who have spoken to our hearts are; Margaret Walker, who speaks boldly in her poem, “For my People,” Maya Angelou in her poetic voice, speaks loudly boasting of the “Phenomenal Woman.” Maya, in a crescendo of pride declares; phenomenally, phenomenal woman, that’s me.

Black Authors have shown how some survived the struggles of this life and lived to tell about their victories and defeats. Autobiographies of the people who have left footprints in the sands of time such as; Malcolm X, Booker T. Washington, Frederick Douglass, James Weldon Johnson, James Baldwin, Richard Wright and countless others who affected the lives of many in such a positive way.

Black Authors have recorded the day to day successes and failures of a people who have traveled a long lonesome road in search of the promises in the constitution of our nation.

This constitution promises life, liberty, justice and the pursuit of happiness for all. This promise has proven to be elusive to so many seemingly managing to stay just out of reach. So close yet so far. Many of the elders have left the story of their struggles etched in our hearts as they walked this earth as pathfinders for those who were to come after. Some of the elders did get a chance to get to the “Mountain Top” and had a chance to glimpse the “Promise Land and see the future. In their minds eye they saw the impossible dream become a reality. They heard the clear, strong voice proclaiming, “Yes, we can!”