#AmericanWriters
My name is Johnson— Madam Alberta K. The Madam stands for business. I’m smart that way. I had a
'Me an’ ma baby’s Got two mo’ ways, Two mo’ ways to do de Charleston!… Da, da, Da, da, da!
Because my mouth Is wide with laughter And my throat Is deep with song, You do not think
When the shoe strings break On both your shoes And you’re in a hurry— That’s the blues. When you go to buy a candy bar
Now dreams Are not available To the dreamers, Nor songs To the singers.
In an envelope marked: PERSONAL God addressed me a letter. In an envelope marked: PERSONAL
My old man’s a white old man And my old mother’s black. If ever I cursed my white old man I take my curses back. If ever I cursed my black old mot…
Fine living . . . a la carte? Come to the Waldorf—Astoria! LISTEN HUNGRY ONES! Look! See what Vanity Fair says… new Waldorf—Astoria:
Democracy will not come Today, this year Nor ever Through compromise and fear. I have as much right
Oh, silver tree! Oh, shining rivers of the soul! In a Harlem cabaret Six long—headed jazzers play. A dancing girl whose eyes are bold
I look at the world From awakening eyes in a black fac… And this is what I see: This fenced—off narrow space Assigned to me.
I, too, sing America. I am the darker brother. They send me to eat in the kitchen When company comes, But I laugh,
The census man, The day he came round, Wanted my name To put it down. I said, Johnson,
Where is the Jim Crow section On this merry—go—round, Mister, cause I want to ride? Down South where I come from White and colored
When a man starts out with nothing… When a man starts out with his han… Empty, but clean, When a man starts to build a world… He starts first with himself