James Weldon Johnson

James Weldon Johnson (1871–1938) was an American writer, educator, lawyer, diplomat, and civil rights activist. Born in Jacksonville, Florida, he was a key figure in the Harlem Renaissance. His novel The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man (1912), published anonymously, is a pioneering work exploring racial identity and passing. Johnson's poetry collection God's Trombones (1927) adapts African American sermon traditions into verse. He also wrote the lyrics for "Lift Every Voice and Sing" (1900), later known as the Negro National Anthem. Johnson served as U.S. consul in Venezuela and Nicaragua and was the first African American executive secretary of the NAACP. His literary legacy lies in blending folk culture with formal artistry, influencing generations of Black writers.