author
S. James Weldon
A gifted writer, poet, and public figure, he helped shape both American literature and the fight for civil rights. His work moves easily between art and history, from the lyrics of "Lift Every Voice and Sing" to powerful poetry and fiction.
1 Audiobook
Twenty years a fakir
by S. James Weldon
About the author
Born in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1871, he built an unusually wide-ranging career as a writer, educator, lawyer, diplomat, songwriter, and civil rights leader. He studied at Atlanta University, became principal of the Stanton School, and was admitted to the Florida bar before moving into journalism, music, and national public life.
He is especially remembered for writing the lyrics to "Lift Every Voice and Sing" with his brother J. Rosamond Johnson, as well as for books such as The Autobiography of an Ex-Coloured Man, God’s Trombones, and Along This Way. His writing helped bring greater depth, dignity, and artistic range to Black American literature in the early twentieth century.
Beyond his literary work, he played a major role in the NAACP, serving as a leading voice for civil rights during a critical period in American history. That blend of artistry and public purpose gives his work a lasting power: it speaks both to its own time and to readers looking for beauty, courage, and clear-eyed honesty.