James Weldon Johnson

James Weldon Johnson, born on June 17, 1871, in Jacksonville, Florida, was a man of
many talents: a writer, diplomat, educator, and civil rights leader. He was a Renaissance
man who used every tool at his disposal to fight for the dignity and freedom of African
Americans. From a young age, Johnson recognized the power of words, and he wielded
them like a weapon against injustice.

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As a co-writer of “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” often referred to as the Black National
Anthem, Johnson gave voice to the hopes and dreams of a people yearning for equality.
His work with the NAACP took him from Jacksonville to Harlem, where he became the
organization's first Black executive secretary. Through his leadership, Johnson
championed anti-lynching legislation and expanded the reach of the civil rights
movement across the country.

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In Florida, particularly in Jacksonville and Miami, Johnson’s legacy is one of intellectual
and cultural empowerment. He showed us that our voices have power, that our stories
deserve to be told, and that we, too, can shape the future. Johnson’s life was a
testament to the fact that the arts, education, and activism are not separate paths, but
interconnected roads leading toward justice.