Knowra James Weldon Johnson James Weldon Johnson James Weldon Johnson (1871–1938) was an American writer, diplomat, educator, and civil rights leader who wrote the lyrics to “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”
John Rosamond Johnson : An American composer, pianist, and singer who collaborated with his brother James Weldon Johnson. He composed the music for “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” whose lyrics James wrote.
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People : A U.S. civil rights organization founded in 1909 to secure political, educational, and social equality. Johnson became the NAACP’s first Black executive secretary and later its national secretary.
Lift Every Voice and Sing : A hymn with lyrics by James Weldon Johnson and music by John Rosamond Johnson, first performed in 1900. The song became Johnson’s most enduring work and is often called the Black national anthem.
Black national anthem : A popular name for “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” reflecting its enduring role in African-American civic and cultural life. The label captures the public significance the song acquired beyond its original school performance.
Atlanta University : A historically Black university founded in Atlanta in 1865, now part of Clark Atlanta University. Johnson studied at Atlanta University after Tuskegee and later returned to teach there.
Booker T. Washington : An American educator and leader who founded Tuskegee Institute and advocated vocational education for Black Americans. Johnson served as a diplomat during the same era that Washington shaped national debates over Black advancement.
African-American literature : Literature created by African Americans, shaped by Black history, culture, and experience. Johnson’s poetry, fiction, autobiography, and editorial work span several major forms of this tradition.
The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man : A 1912 novel by James Weldon Johnson about a biracial man who chooses to pass as white. This novel explores racial identity through a fictional narrator’s life and choices.
The Crisis : A magazine founded by the NAACP in 1910 to address race, politics, and African-American culture. As editor from 1917 to 1923, Johnson expanded the magazine’s literary presence.
Expatriation : The act of leaving one’s native country to live elsewhere, sometimes involving a change of citizenship. Johnson’s consular service took him abroad to posts in Venezuela and Nicaragua.
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