The fifth John H. Johnson Day, the state-recognized observance celebrating the EBONY founder will unveil the primary and solely statue of the publishing pioneer on November 1, 2023. Hosted by the Mates of John H. Johnson Museum, the statue is being erected in Mr. Johnson’s beginning metropolis.
Commissioned by the Arkansas State Parks Division, Mr. Johnson’s statue will sit on the head of the Arkansas State Parks Delta Heritage Path in Arkansas Metropolis.
“We labored with legislators to get the invoice handed, which permits for official celebration and observance of Mr. Johnson in Arkansas,” says museum curator Angela Courtney, who’s orchestrating the day’s actions.
Linda Johnson Rice, the daughter of Johnson and his spouse Eunice, who was additionally instrumental in establishing EBONY’s legacy, will likely be in attendance. “She’ll discuss what all this implies to her father’s legacy.”
Susan Holley Williams sculpted the John H. Johnson statue. She tells EBONY, ”All through this undertaking, I felt like a mom awaiting a beginning. After 9 months of digging by means of a vat of clay, establishing and deconstructing, I lastly discovered John H. Johnson. I thanked God and returned him to his hometown.”
With sponsorship from Johnson Rice and the Arkansas Diagnostic Middle of Dr. Alonso Williams and his spouse Susan, the sculptor, right here’s extra to find out about this upcoming historic occasion celebrating an iconic man.
EBONY: What’s the historical past behind John H. Johnson Day?
Angela Courtney: The Arkansas State Parks contacted the Mates of John H. Johnson Museum. That they had acquired funding from the Walton Household Basis and needed to accomplice with us on one thing in his honor, however they didn’t know what that undertaking may appear to be. They requested us, and we stated we’d like to have a statue of Mr. Johnson.
What is going to occur on the day of the occasion?
US Congressman Danny Davis is our particular visitor for the revealing. Whereas he represents Chicago, he is from Arkansas. In 2021, we requested him to introduce John H. Johnson Day on the Home ground for nationwide observance. He’s receiving our John H. Johnson Day Humanitarian Award, and we now have awards in media and journalism and enterprise and entrepreneurship. These are the three areas that embodied Mr. Johnson. We’ll additionally characteristic music and actions centered across the interval of Mr. Johnson’s childhood: jug band music utilizing washboards, spoons and devices of the time, offered by Arkansas State College Mid-South. As well as, college students from Little Rock, Arkansas’ Mabelvale Center College will carry out. We’ll have superstar chef Jarita Frazier-King, who makes a speciality of soul meals and meals from the African diaspora, getting ready a few of the dishes from Mr. Johnson’s period.
What’s the importance of getting John H. Johnson Day on November 1?
Mr. Johnson at all times stated November was his fortunate month. He began Johnson Publishing Firm and launched EBONY journal on that date. Once we began the observance, I stated,” Lord, let or not it’s on November 1.” And that’s the date legislators handed the invoice.
How does having this sculpture within the metropolis the place Mr. Johnson was born really feel?
He cherished Arkansas. If you happen to learn his e book Succeeding Towards the Odds: The Autobiography of a Nice American Businessman, each different chapter, if not each chapter, he mentions Arkansas. As a toddler, he needed to stay on a mountain for six weeks as a result of a flood. It was a time when he noticed how individuals may come collectively and work for the widespread good. That have taught him loads. In his e book, he talks about by no means leaving a room with out having an precise sale or deal. His secret? To persuade individuals why it is of their greatest curiosity to assist us.
How lengthy has the John H. Johnson Museum been open?
Mr Johnson returned dwelling to Arkansas for the museum’s opening in 2004. Subsequent 12 months will likely be our twentieth anniversary. Honoring and recognizing somebody like Mr. Johnson, who made so many contributions not solely to Black historical past however to American historical past, we’re excited to have individuals from all around the nation come and be part of our celebration, which is free to the general public.
You’ve written a e book about Mr. Johnson’s childhood.
Most individuals find out about Mr. Johnson from his years in Chicago. If you happen to Google him, a lot of the tales choose up when he was there in highschool. The e book is known as Johnny Was His Identify. That’s the identify he used till highschool when a trainer beneficial that he drop the “ny.” He grew to become “John H.” We observe 9-year-old Johnny, who lived on the Arkansas levee for six weeks in the course of the Nice Mississippi Flood of 1927. We would like the e book in colleges throughout the U.S. so children can find out about him. I am additionally concentrating on individuals whose grandparents and great-grandparents could find out about EBONY and Jet, that 20- and 30-year-old viewers that will not find out about Mr. Johnson. The e book, the museum, John H. Johnson Day and the sculpture are all an extension of his legacy and the curation of his superb life story.
