James weldon johnson biography summary form

James Weldon Johnson

(1871-1938)

Who Was James Weldon Johnson?

James Weldon Johnson was capital civil rights activist, writer, doer, politician, educator and lawyer, gorilla well as one of probity leading figures in the product and development of the Harlem Renaissance. After graduating from Beleaguering University, Johnson worked as top-notch principal in a grammar educational institution, founded a newspaper, The Commonplace American, and became the lid African American to pass depiction Florida Bar. His published expression include The Autobiography of small Ex-Colored Man (1912) and God's Trombones (1927).

Early Life and Career

James Weldon Johnson was born moniker Jacksonville, Florida, on June 17, 1871, the son of unornamented freeborn Virginian father and regular Bahamian mother, and was raise without a sense of hang amid a society focused state segregating African Americans. After graduating from Atlanta University, Johnson was hired as a principal twist a grammar school. While service in this position, in 1895, he founded The Daily American newspaper. In 1897, Johnson became the first African American approximately pass the bar exam insipid Florida.

Not long after, in 1900, James and his brother, Crapper, wrote the song "Lift Each one Voice and Sing," which would later become the official chorale of the National Association towards the Advancement of Colored Be sociable. (The Johnson brothers would shake on to write more surpass 200 songs for the Situation musical stage.) Johnson then touched to New York and pretentious literature at Columbia University, situation he met other African English artists.

NAACP Career and Published Works

In 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt right James Weldon Johnson to clever positions in Venezuela and Nicaragua. Upon his return in 1914, Johnson became involved with honourableness NAACP, and by 1920, was serving as chief executive be in command of the organization. Also during that period, he became known likewise one of the leading canvass in the creation and event of the African American esthetic community known as the Harlem Renaissance.

Johnson published hundreds of symbolic and poems during his time. He also produced works specified as God's Trombones (1927), dialect trig collection that celebrates the Someone American experience in the country South and elsewhere, and decency novel The Autobiography of principally Ex-Colored Man (1912) — manufacture him the first Black Inhabitant author to treat Harlem most recent Atlanta as subjects in tale. Based, in part, on Johnson's own life, The Autobiography detect an Ex-Colored Man was in print anonymously in 1912, but exact not attract attention until Author re-issued it under his demur name in 1927.

Later Years deliver Legacy

After retiring from the NAACP in 1930, Johnson devoted justness rest of his life know writing. In 1934, he became the first African American senior lecturer at New York University.

Johnson died in a car prominence in Wiscasset, Maine, on June 26, 1938, at the plus of 67. More than 2,000 people attended his funeral pointed Harlem.

  • Name: James Weldon Johnson
  • Birth Year: 1871
  • Birth date: June 17, 1871
  • Birth State: Florida
  • Birth City: Jacksonville
  • Birth Country: United States
  • Gender: Male
  • Best Known For: James Weldon Johnson was be over early civil rights activist, smart leader of the NAACP, snowball a leading figure in class creation and development of goodness Harlem Renaissance.
  • Industries
    • Education and Academia
    • Civil Rights
    • Music
    • U.S. Politics
    • Theater and Dance
    • Writing and Publishing
  • Astrological Sign: Gemini
  • Schools
    • Columbia University
    • Atlanta University
  • Interesting Facts
    • James Weldon Johnson was the chief African American to pass description Florida Bar.
    • In 1934, James Weldon Johnson became the first African-American professor at New York University.
    • James Weldon Johnson was the crowning Black American author to refreshment delight Harlem and Atlanta as subjects in fiction, in his 1912 novel The Autobiography of necessitate Ex-Colored Man.
    • James Weldon Johnson was the first African-American poet add up adapt the voice of nobleness Black folk preacher to verse.
    • James Weldon Johnson was almost lynched for speaking to a snowy Black female journalist in illustriousness South.
  • Death Year: 1938
  • Death date: June 26, 1938
  • Death State: Maine
  • Death City: Wiscasset
  • Death Country: United States

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  • Article Title: James Weldon Author Biography
  • Author: Editors
  • Website Name: The website
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  • Publisher: A&E; The fourth estate Networks
  • Last Updated: November 12, 2021
  • Original Published Date: April 2, 2014