“We must begin to tell our young, ‘There’s a world waiting for you. Yours is the quest that’s just begun.’”
Those words are attributed to James Weldon Johnson, who in 1898 was the first African-American admitted to The Florida Bar after reportedly undergoing a grueling two-hour oral examination by a committee appointed by a circuit court judge.
Born June 17, 1871, in Jacksonville, Johnson attended the Stanton Central Grammar School until the eighth grade.
There were no high schools in Jacksonville for African-Americans at the time, so Johnson moved to Atlanta for his secondary education and then attended college at Atlanta University, graduating in 1894.
He returned to Jacksonville and was appointed a teacher and ultimately the principal at Stanton. During his tenure, Johnson expanded the curriculum to include high school-level classes.
After his admission to The Florida Bar, Johnson practiced law in Jacksonville in partnership with a former college classmate while continuing to serve as principal.
In late 1899, Johnson was invited to give a speech at a celebration of Abraham Lincoln’s birthday. Instead of preparing a speech, Johnson wrote a hymn for the occasion, and his brother, John Rosamond Johnson, composed the music.
Their composition, “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing,” was first performed by 500 Jacksonville children in February 1900.
Although he contributed to his community in so many ways, Johnson is said to have considered “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing” to be the most satisfying accomplishment in his life.
Johnson was a civil rights activist, writer, composer, politician, educator and lawyer and is recognized as one of the leading figures in the creation and development of the Harlem Renaissance.
Johnson served as the U.S. consul in Puerto Cabello, Venezuela and as the first black executive secretary of the NAACP.
During his tenure with the national civil rights organization, Johnson used his legal prowess to get a federal bill passed that would end lynching and oversaw challenges to Jim Crow laws that were appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.
His desire for servant leadership was a generational legacy demonstrated by his grandfather, Stephen Dillet’s 30 years of public service in the Bahamas House of Assembly.
Throughout his accomplished life, Johnson was dedicated to ending discrimination. By exhortation and example, he encouraged creative expression and education among the younger generation.
If Johnson were alive today, there is no doubt he would encourage us all to be stewards of the community and servant leaders.
We all have hectic schedules filled with multitudes of commitments, but we can take small steps to improve our community.
The Jacksonville Bar Association has numerous volunteer opportunities available through events and section and committee participation.
Groups include the Law Week, Civics Education, Holiday Project, Human Rights, Juvenile Dependency/Juvenile Delinquency, Legal Needs of Children, Diversity, Mentoring and Pro Bono committees.
The legal community also has myriad voluntary Bar organizations in which to get involved.
Contributing to the community is not limited to providing legal assistance. Mentorship programs, schools, churches and hospitals would benefit from your time, talent and treasure.
No matter the cause, no matter the time, there’s a world waiting that needs you to help effect positive change.
Joni Poitier is an associate at Moseley, Prichard, Parrish, Knight & Jones.