author
Edward A. (Edward Austin) Johnson
1860–1944
Born into slavery and largely self-educated, this lawyer, teacher, and historian built a career devoted to Black education and civic progress. He is also remembered as the first African American elected to the New York State Legislature.
2 Audiobooks
Light Ahead for the Negro
by Edward A. (Edward Austin) Johnson
History of Negro Soldiers in the Spanish-American War, and Other Items of Interest
by Edward A. (Edward Austin) Johnson
About the author
Born in Raleigh, North Carolina, in 1860, Edward A. Johnson came of age during the years just after emancipation. He studied at Atlanta University, taught school, and later became dean of the law school at Shaw University, building a career that connected education, law, and public service.
Johnson also wrote important early histories centered on Black life and achievement, including A School History of the Negro Race in America from 1619 to 1890 and History of the Negro Soldiers in the Spanish-American War. His writing aimed to preserve stories that were often ignored and to place African American experience firmly within the broader history of the United States.
After moving to New York, he practiced law and entered politics as a Republican. In 1917 he was elected to the New York State Assembly, becoming the first African American to serve in the state legislature. His life joined scholarship, activism, and public office in a way that still makes him a notable figure in American history.