Jacksonville City Council member Garrett Dennis is introducing legislation that would change the name of Hemming Park in the heart of downtown.
Dennis made the announcement today, saying it’s fitting to suggest the name change to James Weldon Johnson Park since today would have been Johnson’s 149th birthday.
“Not only was James Weldon Johnson born and raised in Jacksonville, he has become a historic public figure, known for his famous song, ‘Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing,‘” Dennis says in a statement.
Hemming Park was the site of a lot of commotion just last week when a confederate monument was removed.
Alan Bliss is CEO of the Jacksonville Historical Society, and he says there’s no doubt Johnson is one of the city’s leading native sons, especially in the black community.
“He certainly is one of the greatest claims that can be made to Jacksonville’s glory, certainly in terms of its African-American citizenship,” Bliss says.
He says he’s a giant in United States history as well as African-American history who had a distinguished career in education, diplomacy and the Harlem Renaissance.
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