Grand Old Partisan applauds James Weldon Johnson, born in Jacksonville this day of 1871. Graduating from Atlanta University, he taught school and rose to be principal. In 1900, he wrote the poem Lift Every Voice and Sing to honor Republican activist Booker T. Washington when the civil rights leader visited his school. His brother set the words to music, resulting in what became known as the 'Negro National Anthem'.
Johnson's political activism began with denouncing Democrats for lynching African-Americans. The young Republican campaigned for Theodore Roosevelt in 1904. Roosevelt appointed him consul to Venezuela and then Nicaragua.
Next, Johnson relocated to New York City and contributed his poetry and novels to the Harlem Renaissance movement. Ten years, he was executive secretary of the NAACP. Later in life, he was professor at New York University and Fisk University.
Here is a Video Version of this article on YouTube: https://youtu.be/WRWmiRmL-CY
Michael Zak is author of Back to Basics for the Republican Party, a history of GOP civil rights achievement.
Each day, Michael Zak's grandoldpartisan YouTube channel and Grand Old Partisan blog celebrate more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. And, see Speech Raves for audience feedback from his presentations in thirty-one states so far.
He also wrote the 2005 Republican Freedom Calendar.
Clarence Thomas cited Back to Basics for the Republican Party in a Supreme Court decision.
See www.youtube.com/q?v=IzxKCiXc5Qc for a brief video of a Texas Republican praising Back to Basics for the Republican Party.
"This is the most amazing book about politics that I have ever read. The Overview should be required reading for anyone with even a minor interest in government. The remainder is an enthralling history lesson that I will never forget. For years, we have all been misled about the true nature of the GOP. This is the real deal! Read it and be proud!"
"Michael Zak wrote the definitive history of the GOP."
"Back to Basics for the Republican Party is the most significant contribution to the Republican Party in the last twenty years apart from Ronald Reagan."
"Back to Basics for the Republican Party is more important to our party now than ever before."
and
"one of the best books I ever read"
Comments