James Weldon Johnson And The NAACP

In 1908, Springfield, Illinois was the site of a series of riots. William Walling, a white socialist and laborer activist was appalled by the event and felt the rights of blacks needed to be protected and everyone should fight for equality. He made a calling in the “Independent” for all to help. Mary White Ovington read the article and decided to answer. She then invited Dr. Henry Moskowitz, a laborer and social worker that wanted to participate. The three of them were the original founders of The National Association for The Advancement of Colored People, NAACP (Salzman 132-33). Later, more invited members: Charles Edward Russell, Oswald Garrison Villard, black clergymen Bishop Alexander Walters of the

With the appointment of Johnson as Acting Secretary, and later given the permanent spot, he was the first Afro-American to hold the position making it the first time all official duties were held by Afro-Americans (Johnson 316;English.uiuc.edu). Aside from holding the positions of field secretary and then executive secretary, and expanding the NAACP as a whole, Johnson made other significant contributions to the NAACP. To protest the violence, race riots, and lynchings of East St. Louis, Johnson suggested a silent march in New York City. It was a great success and Johnson was then even more respected throughout the United States (Kellogg 188). He also served on the committee to talk to the Secretary of War, Newton D. Baker, about providing training camps for blacks so they too can become officers in the armed forces. That visit was also successful and regular training camps were set aside for blacks (Johnson 318). Another important position held by Johnson was to represent the Harlem Branch to meet with President Wilson. The plan was to offer a petition of 12,000 signers asking for clemency for the blacks involved in the “Houston Affair.” Unlike the other committees, this one was unsuccessful (Johnson 323). Johnson then led the NAACP’s effort to have an anti-lynching bill passed in congress. This bill, named and introduced by Congressman Dyer, passed in the house but was unsuccessful in the senate. Johnson spent two years in trying to convince Congress to make it a federal crime to participate in lynchings (Ovington 237). Johnson even helped attorneys hired by the NAACP in a series of civil cases defending Afro-Americans’ civil rights and trying to break segregation in the United States (English.uiuc.edu). After years of devotion and accomplishing many things, in 1931, James Weldon Johnson stepped down as Executive Secretary for the National

In 1915, James Weldon Johnson became a member of the Organization NAACP but it would not be until the summer of 1916 that he would devote much of his time the organization (Kellogg 179). It was then under the leadership of James that the NAACP became a recognizable name in the United States in the 1920’s (Salzman1938). While in Jacksonville visiting his mother, J.E. Spingarn invited him to attend a meeting in Troutback at Armeia, New York. He would become Vice-President and then in December of 1916, field secretary of the Harlem Branch because he was considered a well rounded person and was thought to be able to i

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