Fenton Johnson

Fenton Johnson (1888–1958) was an American poet from Chicago associated with the early Harlem Renaissance. His poetry is known for its modern, free-verse style and critical portrayal of African American urban life. Biography ↓More ↓

Most common moods

Most common topics

Poems

Biography

Fenton Johnson (1888–1958) was an American poet, essayist, and playwright born in Chicago, Illinois. He attended the University of Chicago and later Northwestern University. Johnson published several poetry collections, including A Little Dreaming (1913), Visions of the Dusk (1915), and Songs of the Soil (1916). His work anticipated the Harlem Renaissance with its use of free verse and its focus on the experiences of Black Americans in urban settings. Johnson's poetry often explores themes of weariness, disillusionment, and social injustice, as seen in his well-known poem 'Tired.' He is regarded as a significant forerunner of the New Negro movement in literature.

Learn Poems app

Pick a short Johnson poem and learn it today.

Step-by-step learning, voice recordings you can share, and review reminders.

Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play