All month long during Good Morning Jacksonville, we will celebrate the contributions that African Americans have made to American history.
James Weldon Johnson
Born in the River City, author educator, lawyer, songwriter and civil rights activist James Weldon Johnson is best remembered for his leadership of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).
Johnson wrote his own poetry and supported work by others. Now, he even has a college preparatory middle school named after him on the First Coast.
Johnson wrote the lyrics to the Negro National Anthem Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing, while his brother J. Rosamond Johnson wrote the music. This year marks the 120th anniversary of the anthem.
Langston Hughes
Activist and Harlem Renaissance leader, Langston Hughes is known for integrating poetry with the cadence of Jazz.
He left his mark using poetry to portray the lives of working-class blacks in America.
During his lifetime, he wrote over 60 books and famous poems. Many give Hughes credit for infusing socialism and humor with art.
You can find his exhibits in museums across the nation, including our very own Ritz Theater in Downtown Jacksonville.
Throughout the month of February, be sure to keep in mind, history will never die — as long as we keep it alive.