"The Voice of Black America"
John H. Johnson rose from poverty to become one of the world's most influential media pioneers by creating the largest black-owned publishing company in the United States.
Born January 19, 1918, in Arkansas City, Arkansas, left his hometown due to death in the family and the desire to pursue a better education that was not available to African Americans. The move allowed him to flourish and graduate from DuSable High School in Southside Chicago with honors.
While attending the University of Chicago, Johnson worked part-time at Supreme Liberty Life Insurance Company, where he quickly rose to the role of editor for the company's monthly newspaper. Recognizing the need and opportunity for a magazine that appealed to Black audiences, Johnson took a bold step. In 1942, with his mother's furniture as collateral he got a $500 loan, Johnson mailed the first issue of the Negro Digest, which immediately did numbers. This success laid the foundation for Johnson Publishing Company. In 1945, Ebony Magazine was launched under the company's umbrella, followed by JET magazine in 1951.
In September 1955, John H. Johnson made a decision that would shock the world. Jet magazine became the first publication to reveal the photos of Emmett Till's body to the public. John H. Johnson played a vital role in fueling the momentum of the Civil Rights Movement.
Johnson said “Ebony and JET showed black people going places they had never been, doing things they had never done. The magazine covered the dreams and the dreamers. It covered the struggles and became the struggle.” He recognized the power of the Black consumer market long before it gained widespread attention in American business.
Johnson's impact extended beyond the business realm. He served as an advisor to many U.S. Presidents, leveraging his influence to advocate for social change and civil rights. In 1996,
In recognition of his contributions, President Bill Clinton awarded Johnson the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the nation.
HELLA INSPIRED.
