1

Viola B. Muse

Literature

— by James Weldon Johnson gives much information –concerning Jacksonville in its infancy. When "La VillaLaVilla", a section of the city, very close now to the heart of town, was a sepa–rate township, he lived in that part of the community. He tells, in the most interesting manner, the life of the negroNegro and his the part he played in & making the city. The political part negroesNegroes played is in such contrast to the present –day situation, and the feeling between the races is in then and now is astounding in comparison. "James Weldon Johnson, born in Jacksonville, FlaFlorida –, 1871, spent his early childhood here, and received his education through Highhigh Schoolschool at Stanton. Finished Atlanta UniUniversity;. tenTen years later, his alma mater conferred upon him the degree of M.AMaster of Arts. He continued his studies at Columbia UniUniversity. Both Talladega &and Howard UniUniversity conferred upon him the degree of Doctor of Letters. Seven yrsyears after graduating from Atlanta Uni.University, he was principal of public Schoolschool in JaxJacksonville, and taught with tact, due to his outstanding qualities, he raised the 2 Due to a technical limitation, we cannot currently center–align this number. status of a school doing only grammar grade work to a full–fledged Highhigh Schoolschool. Meanwhile, he studied law and was admitted to the Florida Bar. While still in JaxJacksonville, he began, with his brother Rosamond Johnson, that collaboration in Songsong – Makingmaking which, in the next few years, proved so successful. In 1900, he wrote the words to while Rosamond set it to music. While this hymn became the "Negro National Anthem," it was originally composed for a group of school children preparing for Lincoln’s Birthday Exercises. “Its noble words and swelling music made it deservedly popular and is now regularly sung in Negro Schoolsschools and Collegescolleges throughout of the country.” In 1901, he, with Rosamond, removed to New York, and they together wrote music for Musicalmusical Comedycomedy shows, the famous Williams &and Walker among them. He aspired for higher things and, in 1906, became the U.S.United States Consulconsul to Puerto Cabello, venezuelaVenezuela,Either an unknown character or abbreviation appears before the V of Venezuela or that letter is formed in a way that we do not find repeated in the collection. serving until 1909. In 1909, he was transferred to Corinto, Nicaragua, where he remained until 1912 as U.S.United States Consulconsul. Work with government gave him a broad experience and contact. Contribu–ting Editoreditor to , 1912 —; Field Sec.Section, N.A. A C P.National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, — 1916–201920.; Executive Sec.Section, N. A. A. C PNational Association for the Advancement of Colored People, since 1920; 3 V.B. Muse Literature (Johnson cont) Due to a technical limitation, we cannot currently reflect the horizontal alignment of these headers. Eleventheleventh Spingarn Medalist, 1925; Trusteetrustee, Atlanta UniUniversity; member of Bd.Board of Directors of American Fund for Public Service; author—, ; editor, —, ; contributed to , , , and other magazines; member of Civic Club, N. Y. CNew York City.; Chairmanchairman of House Committee of Colored Rep.Representative Club of N. Y. CNew York City., 1903–051905; Pres.Presidentpresident, Colored Rep.Representative Club of N. Y. CNew York City., 1905–061906; Addressaddress Fisk Uni.University, Nash.Nashville, Tenn.Tennessee (11); Wrotewrote ; Editoreditor of ;, , (12).