James Weldon Johnson: Forgotten Hero Quiz

Answer: Jacksonville, FL

James Weldon Johnson was born in 1871. His mother, Helen, was the first African-American school teacher in a Florida grammar school. His father, James, was the head waiter at a luxury hotel in Jacksonville.

Answer: He was all of these things

JWJ wore many hats. He was also a songwriter and a collector of African-American poetry. He edited the anthology, "The Book of American Negro Poetry," which helped introduce the poets of the Harlem Renaissance to the world.

Answer: False

He was not the first manager, but he was the first African-American manager. His efforts with the NAACP included investigating America's occupation of Haiti and working to get an anti-lynching law passed.

Answer: High school principal at an African-American high school

After teaching for two years at Jacksonville's Stanton high school JWJ became the principal. He restructured the education system to include ninth and tenth grade so as to improve learning. Although Stanton was the largest school in the area Johnson made half as much as his white counterparts.

Answer: The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man

"The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man" relates the story of an 8 year old boy who discovers his blackness, learns to play the piano and poses as a white man who takes a white wife and fathers white children. The novel also depicts the burning of an African-American in the south as many white spectators look on.

This book offers perspective on and illumination of a horrific era of American culture.

Answer: False

The Dryer Anti-Lynching Act was never passed. Johnson and many colleagues devoted much effort to this bill which would have made lynching a federal felony. In 2005 the US Senate issued an apology for it's failure to enact this and other bills like it.

Answer: James Weldon Johnson Middle School

James Weldon Johnson Middle School is a magnet school in the downtown Jacksonville area. The school stresses the importance of diversity and academics.

Answer: Fisk University

Fisk created this position for JWJ. Although the position was a literature position Johnson also lectured on racial issues and civil rights.

Answer: Lift Every Voice and Sing

"Lift Every Voice and Sing" was written by James Weldon and John Rosamond Johnson in 1899. This song was later adopted by the NAACP as the "Negro National Anthem".

Answer: All of these are correct

Johnson Graduated from Atlanta University in 1894. He completed some graduate courses, and would later receive an honorary masters degree from the university. Talladega and Howard awarded JWJ with honorary doctorates. JWJ died in 1938 at the age of 67.