Who Was James Weldon Johnson?

James Weldon Johnson was born in 1871. He had many talents. He was a teacher. He was also a writer. He wrote poems and songs. He wrote one very famous song. It is called “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” Today people call it the Black National Anthem. 

Photo Credit: Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Division [LC-USZ62-42992]

Johnson wanted Black people to be treated fairly. He worked for a group that fought for this. The group is called the NAACP. He helped plan a silent march. Around 10,000 people walked down a street in New York. They did this because Black people were not being treated fairly.  

Photo Credit: Library of Congress, Photographs & Prints Division, [LC-DIG-ds-00894]

Then Johnson became the leader of the NAACP. He was the first Black person to do the job. He worked hard to make life fair for Black Americans. Today we remember him as a hero who used his voice to make the world better. 

What Do You Think? What makes James Weldon Johnson a hero? 

Photo Credit: Everett Collection Historical/Alamy Stock Photo