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 also taught about law and civil rights at Savannah State University and Georgia Southern University.

He has been very active with 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 served as the executive director for the Georgia State Conference of the NAACP. In 2013, he became the youngest president of the Georgia NAACP. Johnson also helped start the Moral Monday Georgia Movement. This group works to bring fairness and good values back into public discussions and laws.

Early Life and Education

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 (J.D.) from the University of Georgia School of Law. He also studied dispute resolution at the University of Wisconsin at Madison. He was part of the Pi Sigma Alpha Political Science Honor Society. He is also a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.

Career in Law and Teaching

Johnson taught at Savannah State University and Georgia Southern University. He taught subjects like American Government, law, and civil rights.

In 2005, he led a discussion at a conference about "Quality Education as Civil Rights." This discussion focused on how good education is a basic right for everyone. Today, Johnson is a partner at Davis Bozeman Johnson Law. His law firm has offices in Decatur, Savannah, and Statesboro, Georgia. He works on criminal and civil law cases in Georgia.

Working for Civil Rights

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

He later became the Legal Redress Director for the Georgia NAACP. In this role, he helped fight for voting rights. In 2006, the Georgia NAACP worked with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). They successfully stopped a law that would have made it harder for some people to vote. This law would have required voters to pay for a new photo ID card. Before this, many types of IDs were accepted. Opponents said the new law might stop minority voters from participating. Johnson and others argued it was unfair.

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 issues like police actions and fairness in schools. They also worked to support equal opportunity for all.

Johnson also spoke out against a bill to make April "Confederate History and Heritage Month." He argued that the state had not 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 these laws were applied fairly to everyone. For example, he helped in the case of Genarlow Wilson. Wilson was released after Georgia changed its law about teenage relationships. Johnson and the NAACP fought for his release.

In 2007, the NAACP changed its structure. Johnson was then appointed as 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 president in the group's history. He took over from Edward Dubose.

Johnson explained that the NAACP works on "American issues." He said, "Our real work is to make sure that the Constitution and laws of these United States are equally applied to every citizen." He focused on issues that affect all Georgians. Leon Russell, a leader in the NAACP, praised Johnson. He said Johnson would inspire more young people to join the NAACP's work.

As president, Johnson worked with different political groups on criminal justice reform. This included changes to sentencing and parole laws. He also pushed for more diversity in Georgia's courts. He was a strong critic of a plan to change public schools into for-profit corporations. He also helped start Georgia's Moral Monday Movement. This group held protests and teach-ins. They spoke out against laws they believed were unfair.

Johnson stepped down from his role on July 23, 2017. He later ran for Congress in 2018. He won the Democratic nomination but lost the general election. During his time as president, the Georgia NAACP filed many lawsuits. These lawsuits addressed voting rights and fair election districts. Johnson is known for bringing new energy to the NAACP in Georgia. He also helped connect with younger activist groups.

Derrick Johnson, the NAACP's interim president, said, "I don't think we've seen the last of his leadership." Rev. Raphael Warnock praised Johnson's ability to lead protests and argue in court.

Johnson later became the head of The New Georgia Project. This group works to encourage people to vote and supports fair public policies.

Religious Leadership

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 a national religious group.

Family Life

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 Recognition

Johnson was honored at Georgia Southern University. He was inducted into the John F. Nolen, Jr. Hall of Leaders. Johnson also worked for the American Heart and Stroke Association. There, he helped create plans to improve health for all people. He worked to reduce health differences based on race, background, or gender.

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.