'The Book of American Negro Poetry' Summary

The Book of American Negro Poetry, edited by James Weldon Johnson, serves as a foundational anthology in the canon of African-American literature. Published in 1922, this collection brings together poems from influential Black poets of the early 20th century. Through their works, authors like Paul Laurence Dunbar, Claude McKay, and James Corrothers offer insights into the African-American experience, addressing themes of racial identity, cultural pride, and social challenges. Johnson’s aim was to elevate the status of African-American poetry and to offer a platform for these voices that were often marginalized in mainstream American literature. The collection encapsulates the complexity of African-American life, expressing both the struggles and the strengths of Black communities. This anthology not only preserves these voices but also encourages a deeper understanding of the cultural and historical contributions of African-Americans to American poetry and beyond.

The Book of American Negro Poetry is one of the earliest and most essential anthologies of African-American verse ever brought to print. Edited by writer and diplomat James Weldon Johnson, this collection was published with the hope of bringing to the public a greater awareness of the art and literature created by Black writers. This is the first edition of this long-republished anthology and collects seminal works by Paul Dunbar, W.E.B. Du Bois, Claude McKay, Leslie Hill, James Corrothers, and many more.