James Weldon Johnson (June 17, 1871June 26, 1938) was an American writer and civil rights activist. He was married to civil rights activist Grace Nail Johnson. Johnson was a leader of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). He started working there in 1917. In 1920, he was the first African American to be the executive secretary of the organization. This made him the person in charge. Johnson held that position from 1920 to 1930. As a writer, he was known during the Harlem Renaissance for his poems and his novel. He also has a collection of both poems and spirituals of black culture. He wrote the lyrics for "Lift Every Voice and Sing". This was later known as the Negro National Anthem. The music for the song was written by his younger brother, composer J. Rosamond Johnson.