John Johnson: The Founder Behind Ebony and Jet Magazines
John H. Johnson was born in 1918 in Arkansas City, Arkansas and rose to fame as the founder of the Ebony and Jet magazines, two African American publications that became powerhouses in their respective industries. Regarded as a pioneering figure in American business and journalism, Johnson worked hard to assert Black Americans’ place in mainstream American culture, fighting discrimination and racism along the way. Throughout his career and life, Johnson experienced tremendous success as a publisher, rising from humble roots to achieve great success and recognition.
Early Struggles and Success
Johnson grew up in a time of segregation and economic hardship in the south. Both of his parents had very little formal education, but they taught him the value of hard work and discipline. Johnson was just 16 when he took on a job at the Postal Telegraph office and saved up all of his money in order to attend the, then newly opened, historically Black college in his home state, Arkansas AM&N (now known as the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff).
After being denied entry to the graduation ceremony at his school because he was Black, Johnson was determined to rise above the racial barriers of the time. After his graduation, he took on a job at the Chicago Defender, a newspaper that was highly influential at the time in highlighting the positive news and progress made by Black American people and communities.
It was during his time working for the newspaper that Johnson got the idea for creating his own magazines. He had observed that there was no magazine at the time for African-American communities, and saw this as an opportunity. After getting a $500 loan from his mother, Johnson created the Negro Digest in 1942. The magazine highlighted topics like African-American history, literature, entertainment, and politics and became highly successful, solidifying Johnson’s place as a media mogul.
Ebony and Jet Magazines
In 1945, Johnson launched his iconic Ebony magazine, which soon established itself as a powerhouse magazine on Black American culture and lifestyles. Ebony was highly successful during the post-war era and was known for highlighting important issues facing a changing nation, as well as profiling celebrities, entertainers, and other African-American figures across the country. It was followed by the launch of Jet in 1951, which initially started off as a digest-sized spin-off of the Ebony magazine. Becoming a full-fledged magazine in 1953, Jet magazine was created with an emphasis on news coverage and human-interest stories, becoming an important source of information for marginalized communities who were not often seen reflected in mainstream media.
Key Contributions to the Black Community
Over the years, Johnson’s publications came to provide a level of visibility and representation for Black Americans that was once not available. Through Ebony and Jet, Johnson was not only able to shed light on important issues facing the community but also give a platform for positive Black progress to be celebrated and shared.
At a time when Black Americans were largely underrepresented in television, movies, and radio’s, Ebony and Jet provided unique opportunities for the community to be highlighted in good light. Both magazines elevated and humanized African-American figures and highlighted their successes, inspiring many to strive for excellence themselves. In addition, the magazines also worked to employ an African-American staff, providing an opportunity for aspiring journalists and other professionals to gain experience while working in a space where they could finally connect with readers on an emotional level.
Legacy
John H. Johnson’s legacy lives on in the more than 100 publications kept under his umbrella. His magazines included not only Ebony and Jet, but also titles such as Ebony Jr. and Teen Ebony, as well as two daily editions of Ebony. In addition to creating the magazines, Johnson also owned his own book publishing company and created a cosmetics line that included the world-famous Johnson’s Baby Oil.
John H. Johnson was recognized for his extensive contributions with dozens of awards, honors, and philanthropic contributions. In 1996 he was named one of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of the 20th century and was the first African-American to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Johnson passed away in 2005 but remains a legendary figure in American journalism and publishing. His impact is greatly felt to this day and serves as an inspirational model for young African-American innovators in the industry.
