Helene Johnson
Encyclopedia
Helen Johnson, who was better known as Helene Johnson (1906–1995) was an African American
poet during the Harlem Renaissance
. She was also a cousin of author Dorothy West
.
She spent her early years at her grandfather’s house in Boston. The rest of her formative years were spent in Brookline, Massachusetts.
Johnson's literary career began when she won first prize in a short story competition sponsored by the Boston Chronicle
. She also received an honorable mention in a poetry contest organized by Opportunity
, the journal of the National Urban League
that was one of the leading showcase for the talents of African-American artists.
She reached the height of her popularity in 1927 when her poem "Bottled", a work with unconventional rhythms and innovative slang, was published in the May issue of Vanity Fair
.
She and Dorothy West moved to Harlem in the 1920s. She attended Columbia University, but did not graduate. Both were a part of the Harlem Renaissance and became friends with such artists as Zora Neale Hurston
.
In 1935, Johnson’s last published poems appeared in Challenge: A Literary Quarterly.
She married William Hubbel soon after, and had one child, Abigail.
She spent many years composing poems just for herself, continuing to write a poem a day for the rest of her life, though she stopped publishing after 1937. She died in Manhattan at the age of 89.
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
poet during the Harlem Renaissance
Harlem Renaissance
The Harlem Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned the 1920s and 1930s. At the time, it was known as the "New Negro Movement", named after the 1925 anthology by Alain Locke...
. She was also a cousin of author Dorothy West
Dorothy West
Dorothy West was a novelist and short story writer who was part of the Harlem Renaissance. She is best known for her novel The Living Is Easy, about the life of an upper-class black family.-Early years:...
.
She spent her early years at her grandfather’s house in Boston. The rest of her formative years were spent in Brookline, Massachusetts.
Johnson's literary career began when she won first prize in a short story competition sponsored by the Boston Chronicle
Boston Chronicle
The Boston Chronicle was an American colonial newspaper published briefly from December 21, 1767 until 1770 in Boston, Massachusetts. The publishers, John Mein and John Fleeming, were both from Scotland. The Chronicle was a Loyalist paper in the time before the American Revolution...
. She also received an honorable mention in a poetry contest organized by Opportunity
Opportunity
Opportunity may refer to:*Opportunity International - An International microfinance network that lends to the working poor*Opportunity NYC is the experimental Conditional Cash Transfer program being launched in New York City...
, the journal of the National Urban League
National Urban League
The National Urban League , formerly known as the National League on Urban Conditions Among Negroes, is a nonpartisan civil rights organization based in New York City that advocates on behalf of African Americans and against racial discrimination in the United States. It is the oldest and largest...
that was one of the leading showcase for the talents of African-American artists.
She reached the height of her popularity in 1927 when her poem "Bottled", a work with unconventional rhythms and innovative slang, was published in the May issue of Vanity Fair
Vanity Fair (American magazine 1913-1936)
Vanity Fair was an American society magazine published from 1913-1936. It was highly successful until the Great Depression led to it becoming unprofitable, and it was merged into Vogue magazine in 1936.-History:...
.
She and Dorothy West moved to Harlem in the 1920s. She attended Columbia University, but did not graduate. Both were a part of the Harlem Renaissance and became friends with such artists as Zora Neale Hurston
Zora Neale Hurston
Zora Neale Hurston was an American folklorist, anthropologist, and author during the time of the Harlem Renaissance...
.
In 1935, Johnson’s last published poems appeared in Challenge: A Literary Quarterly.
She married William Hubbel soon after, and had one child, Abigail.
She spent many years composing poems just for herself, continuing to write a poem a day for the rest of her life, though she stopped publishing after 1937. She died in Manhattan at the age of 89.