Britt Johnson Character Analysis in News of the World

An African American freight driver who brings Johanna to Captain Kidd at the beginning of the novel. Britt is famous in North Texas for singlehandedly retrieving his own wife and son from captivity among the Kiowa, and he assisted the army in bringing Johanna back. Yet because it’s transgressive and potentially dangerous for black and white people to travel together, he doesn’t want to undertake the task of bringing her home. Presented early in the novel, Britt’s backstory and dilemma foreground the various racial concerns and prejudices at play in the chaotic world of the American frontier.

Britt Johnson Character Timeline in News of the World

The timeline below shows where the character Britt Johnson appears in News of the World. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...tonight is mostly white, but at the back of the room he can make out Britt Johnson, an African American freighter he knows. Britt makes a small sign, and the Captain... (full context)

American Multiculturalism and Racial Violence Theme Icon

After the reading, Britt Johnson takes Captain Kidd to his wagon, where a young white girl, dressed in Native... (full context)

Captain Kidd asks about Johanna’s parents, and Britt Johnson says that they, along with her little sister, were killed in the initial raid.... (full context)

Captain Kidd understands the wisdom of Britt’s caution. After all, he’d once been married to a San Antonio woman and he understands... (full context)

Britt Johnson continues that Johanna remembers nothing of her life before the Kiowa raid; she doesn’t... (full context)

Seeing that Captain Kidd is persuaded, Britt Johnson takes out a 50-dollar gold piece and gives it to him. He warns her... (full context)

...essential supplies for the journey. Motioning for Johanna to stay put, the Captain seeks out Britt to ask which roads are open and which have been flooded. Britt advises him to... (full context)

...Confederacy. The lieutenant examines Captain Kidd’s old gun, but Kidd keeps the new one from Britt hidden under the seat. Captain Kidd knows it’s pointless to ask the lieutenant about the... (full context)

Britt Johnson and his men are killed in a Comanche raid during one of their freighting... (full context)