Johnson, Charles Spurgeon (1893-1956), was an American sociologist and educator who studied and wrote about the life of blacks in the United States. His books are considered important contributions to social research. Johnson became the first black president of Fisk University, serving from 1947 to 1956.
Johnson was born on July 24, 1893, in Bristol, Virginia. He graduated from Virginia Union University and from the University of Chicago. Johnson was director of research for the National Urban League from 1921 to 1928. Johnson founded Opportunity, the league’s journal, in 1923, and edited it until 1928. The journal featured works by young black artists, musicians, and writers. Johnson was professor of sociology at Fisk University from 1928 to 1947. His books include The Negro in Chicago (1922), Shadow of the Plantation (1934), and Patterns of Negro Segregation (1943). He died on Oct. 27, 1956.
