Johnson, Georgia Douglas (1877–1966)

African-American writer. Born Georgia Blanche Douglas Camp, Sept 10, 1877, in Atlanta, Georgia; died in Washington, DC, May 14, 1966; dau. of George Camp and Laura (Jackson) Camp; completed Normal Program at Atlanta University, 1896; studied Oberlin Conservatory, Cleveland College of Music and Howard University; m. Henry Lincoln Johnson (lawyer and politician), 1903 (died 1925); children: Henry Lincoln Jr., and Peter Douglas.

Poet, playwright, educator, and political activist whose work, incorporating many threads of the artistic tapestry of the Harlem Renaissance, explored the duality women of color endure in American society; served as an assistant principal in Atlanta; moved to Washington, DC (1910), where husband established a law firm and their home became a literary salon known as the "Round Table," which drew many of the major figures of the Harlem Renaissance; published 1st poems in Crisis (1916); published 1st volume of poetry, The Heart of a Woman and Other Poems (1918); explored racial stereotypes in 2nd volume of poetry, Bronze (1922); published more than 200 poems (1918–30), and became active in civil-rights issues and in politics, participating in Pan-African movement, Congregational Church meetings, and Republican Party; after death of husband (1925), became commissioner of conciliation at Department of Labor (1927) and began writing plays; won 1st prize in Opportunity magazine play contest for Plumes(1927); became involved with Federal Theater Project, part of the New Deal.

See also Women in World History.