History

The Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., James Weldon Johnson Scholarship aka the NAACP James Weldon Johnson scholarship was established by Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Incorporated, in 2020 in recognition of James Weldon Johnson, a member of the fraternity during his academic studies, at Clark Atlanta University. James Weldon Johnson became active in the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (the NAACP) in 1917, and served as the Association’s Executive Director from 1920 – 1930. In 1899 he achieved his first literary success by writing the poem “Lift Every Voice and Sing” which was set to music and unofficially became known as the “Negro National Anthem” followed by The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man and God’s Trombones. James Weldon Johnson, who died June 26, 1938, was a civil rights activist, a leader of the NAACP, a poet, educator, lawyer and journalist, and was a leading figure in the creation and development of the Harlem Renaissance.

For years, POISE Foundation has been proud to provide scholarship administration for the National NAACP Scholarship Program.

Going forward, applications for NAACP scholarships are available on NAACP’s website at:

https://naacp.org/find-resources/scholarships-awards-internships