On this day in 1871, James Weldon Johnson was born in Jacksonville, Florida. Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us, Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us; Facing the rising sun of our new day begun, Let us march on till victory is won. This is part of the song, Lift Every Voice and Sing. Its lyrics were written by James Weldon Johnson to commemorate Abraham Lincolns birthday. He was a poet, diplomat, songwriter, and anthologist (compiler) of African American culture. During his lifetime, Johnson faced many a new day and sang his song in many different ways. Johnson started his career as principal of a black high school in Jacksonville. He began practicing law in 1898, when he was admitted to the Florida bar. In 1901, he moved to New York City with his brother, composer John Rosamond Johnson, who put Lift Every Voice and Sing to music. There, the two brothers wrote some 200 songs for Broadway productions. Then President Theodore Roosevelt appointed James W. Johnson United States consul to Venezuela in 1906. Some years later, Johnson took on another important leadership role. In 1920, Johnson became the secretary of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Through the NAACP, he was able to further the opportunities and careers of other African Americans. Throughout his life, Johnson wrote poetry, for which he is best known. He is also well known for his anthologies of African American poetry, which provided inspiration, encouragement, and recognition to the new generation of artists who would create the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s and 1930s.
Posted on: Tue, 17 Jun 2014 12:36:38 +0000
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