Abstract
It is almost inconceivable that one of the men responsible for the so-called "hot" musical number, "Underneath the Bamboo Tree," should be closely allied with any cultural movement of any sort. Yet James Weldon Johnson, the Negro author of the Bamboo Tree lyrics, has been referred to as an esthetic leader of his race, and has been several times compared, as a poet, to John M. Synge. |James Weldon Johnson was born in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1871. Educated at Atlanta University and at Columbia, he spent several years after his graduation collaborating with his brother Rosamund in the writing of librettos and songs for the musical comedy stage. He served at one time as principal of the Jacksonville Colored High School. Alter practicing law for many years he was sent as United States Consul to Venezuela and Nicaragua, where he served for seven, years. He is now professor of creative literature at Fisk University.