James Weldon Johnson (June 17, 1871 – June 26, 1938) a Jacksonville native, was an American writer and civil rights activist. Johnson was a leader of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), where he started working in 1917. In 1920, he was the first African American to be chosen as executive secretary of the organization, effectively the operating officer. Johnson established his reputation as a writer, and was known during the Harlem Renaissance for his poems, novel, and anthologies collecting both poems and spirituals of black culture. He wrote the lyrics for "Lift Every Voice and Sing", which later became known as the Negro National Anthem, the music being written by his younger brother, composer J. Rosamond Johnson.

The James Weldon Johnson Branch of ASALH utilizes every opportunity to educate the citizenry of Duval County about the rich history and accomplishments of African Americans. It was founded in June 1995 in Jacksonville, Florida by a group consisting of educators, historians, and business professionals. We are a 501(c)3 of ASALH and thereby follows the national protocol which is to promote research, preserve, interpret, and disseminate information about Black life, history, and culture to the global community. ASALH was founded in 1915 by Dr. Carter G. Woodson and the Woodson committee.