African American Poets

"James Weldon Johnson was a man of words. He wrote 'Lift Every Voice and Sing,' a poem so uplifting and inspiring it became known as the Black national anthem. James was also a leader of the NAACP, and many people turned to him for advice in troubling times. And then was one of those times. White people were hurting Black people in scary and shocking ways. In July 1917, James helped lead thousands of children and adults in the Silent Protest Parade...