Georgia+Douglas+Johnson.

By Abigail Norton


One of the most widely-known and cherished participants of the Harlem Renaissance, Georgia Douglas Johnson, was an inspiration to many. She was the most widely published African American woman poet of her time and, at the peak of her popularity, was the most widely-read African American woman poet in the United States (University of Georgia).

Georgia Douglas Johnson, then known as Georgia Blanche Camp (Honey), was born on September 10, 1877 in Atlanta, Georgia (University of Georgia). Separated from her father at a young age, Georgia traveled with her mother from Rome to Athens (Jean). She graduated from the Normal School of Atlanta University in 1893 and attended Oberlin Conservatory of Music and the Cleveland College of Music in Ohio. In 1903 she married her husband, Henry Lincoln Johnson, an attorney and Republican politician. In the year 1916, Johnson published her first poem, //The Crisis//, and two collections subsequently followed; //The Heart of a Woman// in 1918 and //Bronze// in 1922. After the death of her husband, Georgia continued to write, beginning with the one-act play //Blue Blood//, published in 1926, and //Plumes//. Her plays total twenty-eight in number. During her lifetime Georgia also wrote weekly editorial pieces under the title “Homely Philosophy”. In 1928 Georgia published her third volume of poetry, //An Autumn Love Cycle//. Her fourth and final volume was published in 1962, and entitled //Share My World// (University of Georgia). She expressed herself through her poetry, plays, and short stories.

For many years Georgia Douglas Johnson opened her home to other African American artists and intellectuals, creating a “Half-way House” where prominent members of the Harlem Renaissance could come to hold weekly forums. Attendees included Langston Hughes, Jean Toomer, W.E.B. Du Bois, William Stanley Braithwaite, and Zora Neale Hurston as well as many others. Georgia's home was a place “where Harlem Renaissance writers struggled with their literary work and where that work found its first audience” (University of Georgia). These sessions were undoubtedly part of what inspired these influential participants in the Harlem Renaissance to say and do the things they did.

**The Suppliant by Georgia Douglas Johnson **

Long have I beat with timid hands upon life's leaden door, Praying the patient, futile prayer my fathers prayed before, Yet I remain without the close, unheeded and unheard, And never to my listening ear is borne the waited word.

Soft o'er the threshold of the years there comes this counsel cool: The strong demand, contend, prevail; the beggar is a fool!

The poem, //The Suppliant// by Georgia Douglas Johnson, is a somber portrayal of the poet’s deep feelings about never giving up, even with the many struggles that people face. This theme ties directly into the Harlem Renaissance and how many felt oppressed by their treatment, yet never stopped trying to make things better. The poet was one of the people who, because of her association with other prominent members of the Harlem Renaissance, probably felt strongly about equality and making life better for African Americans. Her feelings are apparent in the poem, especially through her word choice and imagery.

Although //The Suppliant// may seem like a poem with obvious meaning, it requires deeper reading between the lines to discover what Georgia Douglas Johnson was trying to convey. The main theme of the poem is that people should never give up, no matter how many trials they face. To send this message, Ms. Johnson uses phrases such as “Long have I beat with timid hands upon life’s leaden door” (1) and “unheeded and unheard” (3), along with words like “patient” (2) and “futile” (2). These words and phrases demonstrate how although the person has continued to ask and seek help, they have not been heard. This can be related to the trials people face every day, going unheard but still pressing forward. Georgia Douglas Johnson was trying to let people know that no matter what adversities they face, they should continue to press forward. Another theme used in the poem is to be strong. When Ms. Johnson uses the phrase “ The strong demand, contend, prevail; the beggar is a fool” (6) she is referring to how people who are strong and immoveable in their opinions prevail, while those who cower to others are fools. Although it may be difficult at times, she believes that if a person feels strongly about something, then they should not let their opinions be swayed by others. Overall, the themes in this poem, though hidden, have important meanings that provide insight into the lives of both the author and others in the Harlem Renaissance.


 * Works Cited **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Honey, Maureen. "Georgia Douglas Johnson's Life and Career." //Welcome to English « Department of English, College of LAS, University of Illinois//. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Apr. 2011. [].

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">"Honorees - Georgia Douglas Johnson." //University of Georgia Libraries//. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Apr. 2011. [].

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Jean, Valerie. "Georgia Douglas Johnson." //washingtonart home page//. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Apr. 2011. [].