Arkansas Celebrates Native Son John H. Johnson With State Memorial Day

Under the brilliance of a clear blue sky, dignitaries, family and friends recognized the very first John H. Johnson Day in Arkansas, his home state. His daughter, Linda Johnson Rice, and others sat on a platform mere feet from the small house-turned museum that birthed the founder of the iconic magazines, Ebony and Jet on which Johnson built a fortune, placing him on the list of Forbes magazine’s 400 Wealthiest Americans in 1982 and in the hearts of Black America for the stories of hope and achievement he chronicled for generations in his publications.

“Isn’t it fitting that on such a beautiful, beautiful morning that we would gather to remember and honor the life and legacy of Mr. Johnson?” said Mary Flowers, a member of the Friends of John H. Johnson.

Schoolchildren listened attentively and toured the home of Johnson whose father died in a sawmill accident when he was an eight-year-old. His mother, Gertrude, remarried. They attended the Chicago’s World Fair when Johnson was a teenager and decided to stay in the city where many Southerners had migrated seeking better opportunities. At the young age of 24, Johnson published his first magazine.

“This man built an empire in Chicago,” biographer Dr. Margena Christian said. “He wasn’t looking to make history, he always said, ‘I was looking to make money.’”

In April Arkansas lawmakers passed legislation establishing November 1, 2019 as the first John H. Johnson Day. Members of the Arkansas Black Caucus led the effort which enjoyed bi-partisan support, and Republican Governor Asa Hutchinson signed the bill into law.

The day included two events: one in the morning in Johnson’s hometown, Arkansas City, and an evening celebration at Mosaic Templars Cultural Center in Little Rock where Mayor Frank Scott, Jr. recalled reading Ebony magazine as a child in the beauty shop waiting while his mother had her hair styled. Former Transportation Secretary, Rodney Slater, also an Arkansas native, spoke of the “grit” Johnson exhibited and presented a letter from President Bill Clinton who awarded Johnson the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1996.

Throughout the accolades and reflections, Johnson’s daughter, Linda, nodded agreeably and seemed to hold tears at bay. Earlier this year the magazines were forced to close their doors, having succumbed to changes in the publishing industry that precipitated their financial demise. In July the publishing company’s archives were purchased by a consortium of foundations for $30 million and included over four million photos which will be donated to museums.

The evening featured awards to two couples who demonstrated the spirit and business acumen of Johnson. Helaine Williams and Renarda Williams received the Journalism Award. Williams a contributor to TheVillageCelebration, and Helaine is a columnist for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. The recipients of the Entrepreneur Award were Eddie and Sherra Armstrong, who recently relocated to Chicago where their company, Cannibis Capital Group, is headquartered. The Humanitarian Awards were presented to Mary Flowers and Dr. Calvin Johnson, both of whom were instrumental in creating the Johnson Museum and Day of honor.