James Weldon Johnson, noted author, educator, lawyer, and civil rights leader, resigned from his role as executive secretary of the NAACP, a position he had held since 1920. Johnson cited health reasons for his resignation. During his tenure, he significantly expanded the organization’s reach and effectiveness, especially in fighting racial violence, lobbying for federal anti-lynching legislation, and increasing Black voter registration in the South. He was also a prolific writer and co-author of “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” often called the Black national anthem.
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