Northern white people love the Negro in a sort of abstract way, as a race; through a sense of justice, charity, and philanthropy, they will liberally assist in his elevation.

Johnson is remembered best for his leadership within the NAACP as well as for his writing which includes novels poems and collections of folklore. James Weldon Johnson (June 17 1871 – June 26 1938) was an American author politician diplomat critic journalist poet anthologist educator lawyer songwriter and early civil rights activist.