James Weldon Johnson was born on June 17, 1871, in Jacksonville, Florida, to a freeborn Virginian father and a Bahamian mother. He was a multifaceted figure—an author, educator, lawyer, diplomat, songwriter, and civil rights leader—who played a significant role in the Harlem Renaissance. Johnson graduated from Atlanta University and became the principal of the Stanton School in Jacksonville, where he expanded the curriculum to include high school-level courses, making it the first public high school for African Americans in the city. In 1895, he founded The Daily American, a newspaper aimed at Jacksonville's Black community, and in 1898, he became the first African American to pass the Florida Bar since Reconstruction.

Johnson's contributions to literature include "The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man" (1912) and "God's Trombones" (1927). He is perhaps best known for co-authoring "Lift Every Voice and Sing," often referred to as the Black National Anthem, with his brother J. Rosamond Johnson. This song became a powerful symbol of hope and resilience for African Americans. Johnson's work as a lyricist and composer also extended to Broadway, where he collaborated with his brother and vaudevillian Bob Cole.

Throughout his career, Johnson was a leading figure in the NAACP and a pioneering voice in the fight for civil rights, using his talents to introduce the vibrant Black creative spirit to broader American society. He passed away in 1938, leaving behind a legacy of artistic and social achievements that continue to inspire.