"James Johnson" is a fairly common name and may refer to multiple individuals across various fields. However, if you are referring to the African-American author James Weldon Johnson (1871–1938), he was a prominent figure in the Harlem Renaissance, an educator, diplomat, and civil rights activist. James Weldon Johnson was also a poet, novelist, and critic, best known for his autobiography "The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man" and his influential collection of poems "God's Trombones: Seven Negro Sermons in Verse". He made significant contributions to African-American literature and culture in the early 20th century. As a civil rights leader, he also served as an executive secretary for the NAACP. If you meant a different James Johnson, please provide additional context so that I can give you the correct information.