Francys Johnson facts for kids

Francys Johnson (born June 10, 1979) is an American civil rights attorney, pastor, and educator. He works as a lawyer in Statesboro, Georgia. He has taught about important laws, civil rights, and politics at Savannah State University and Georgia Southern University.

Johnson has been very active in the NAACP in Georgia. The NAACP is a group that works for equal rights for all people. In 2006, he became the Southeast Region Director for the NAACP. Later, he became the executive director for the Georgia State Conference of the NAACP. In 2013, he became the youngest president of the Georgia NAACP. He also helped start the Moral Monday Georgia Movement. This group works to bring fairness and good values back into public discussions and politics.

Early Life and Learning

Johnson was born in Sylvania, Georgia. He went to public schools there. He earned his first college degree from Georgia Southern University. He then got a law degree from the University of Georgia School of Law. He also studied how to solve disagreements at the University of Wisconsin at Madison. He was part of a special honor society for political science students. He is also a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.

His Work as a Teacher and Lawyer

Johnson taught at Savannah State University and Georgia Southern University. He taught classes like American Government, and about race and the law. He also taught about constitutional and criminal law.

In 2005, he led a discussion at a conference about "Quality Education as Civil Rights." This means making sure everyone gets a good education, which is a basic right. Today, Johnson is a partner at Davis Bozeman Johnson Law. His law firm has offices in Decatur, Savannah, and Statesboro, Georgia. He helps people with both criminal and civil law cases in Georgia.

Working for Civil Rights

Johnson first joined the NAACP to help organize community activities in Bulloch County, Georgia.

He later became the Legal Redress Director for the Georgia NAACP. In this role, he helped fight for fair voting rules. In 2006, the Georgia NAACP worked with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). They stopped a law that would have made voters pay for a new photo ID. Before this, people could use many types of ID without a picture. Opponents said the new law would make it harder for some people to vote. Supporters said it would stop voter fraud.

In 2006, Johnson became the NAACP Southeast Region Director. This region had a large part of the NAACP's members. He worked to make the NAACP stronger in the South. He helped create "Citizen Review Boards." These boards looked into claims of police unfairness. They also checked if desegregation orders were being followed.

Johnson also spoke out against a bill to make April "Confederate History and Heritage Month." He argued that the state had never apologized for slavery. He said, "You can't honor the past and not take responsibility for it." He also worked to change Georgia's criminal laws. He wanted to make sure they were fair to everyone, no matter their race.

In 2007, the NAACP changed its structure. Johnson then became the executive director of the Georgia State Conference.

On October 5, 2013, Johnson became the new president of the Georgia NAACP. He was the youngest person to hold this position. He took over from Edward Dubose.

Johnson explained that the NAACP works on issues that affect all Americans. He said, "Our real work is to make sure that the Constitution and laws of these United States are equitably applied to every citizen." He focused on issues that he believed all Georgians should care about.

Leon Russell, a leader in the NAACP, praised Johnson. He said that young people like Johnson should be given chances to lead now. He believed Johnson would attract more young professionals to the NAACP's work.

As president, Johnson worked with different political groups on criminal justice reform. This included changes to sentencing and parole rules. He also pushed for more diversity among judges in Georgia. He was a strong critic of a plan to change the State Constitution. Many believed this plan would have given public schools to private companies.

He also helped start Georgia's Moral Monday Movement. This group held public demonstrations and teach-ins. They protested against policies they believed were unfair. These included not expanding Medicaid, strict drug laws, and "Stand Your Ground" laws.

Johnson left his role at the NAACP on July 23, 2017. He then ran for a seat in the U.S. Congress in 2018. He won the Democratic nomination but lost the election. During his time as president, the Georgia NAACP filed many lawsuits. These lawsuits aimed to protect voting rights. Johnson is known for bringing back the NAACP's strength in fighting for voting rights in Georgia. He also helped connect the NAACP with younger activist groups.

Derrick Johnson, the new interim president of the NAACP, said that Francys Johnson gave his talent and time to the organization at a very important moment.

The Rev. Raphael Warnock said Johnson was comfortable leading large protests and giving arguments in court or sermons in church. He said this showed a rare mix of talents.

Johnson was later chosen to lead The New Georgia Project. This group works to encourage people to vote and supports fair public policies.

As a Religious Leader

Johnson became an ordained minister in the Baptist Church in the late 1990s. He is the ninth pastor of Mount Moriah Baptist Church in Pembroke, Georgia. He is also the thirteenth pastor of Magnolia Missionary Baptist Church in Statesboro, Georgia. Before becoming a regional director for the NAACP, he was named an "Emerging Leader" by the National Religious Leadership Summit.

His Family

Johnson is married to Meca Renee Williams, Ph.D. They have three sons. Their names are Thurgood Joshua Johnson, Langston Hughes Elijah Johnson, and Frederick Douglass Caleb Johnson.

Achievements and Honors

Johnson was honored by Georgia Southern University. He was inducted into the John F. Nolen, Jr. Hall of Leaders for Excellence in Service & Leadership. Johnson also worked for the American Heart and Stroke Association. There, he helped create ways to improve health for different racial and ethnic groups. He also worked to make the organization more diverse.

Johnson has given talks and written about race, fairness, and how public policy affects people. He has taught political science and criminal justice at Georgia Southern University and Savannah State University.