Vision Circle

John Johnson, Media Great, Has Passed

John Johnson, publisher of Ebony and Jet magazines, has passed.

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Magazine publisher John Johnson, who jolted the mostly black readers of Ebony and Jet with violent images that lent visibility and momentum to the civil rights movement, died on Monday, his office said.

A publicist at Johnson's Chicago-based publishing company would not immediately give a cause of death. He was 87.

A multimillionaire who in 1982 became the first black American to make Forbes' list of the richest Americans, Johnson said his magazine philosophy was to reflect the "happier side" of black American life, and that "deep down, at the end of the day, we're trying to give people hope."

My family members received both magazines; Jet and Ebony.

I remember reading about my first celebrety crush, Diahann Carroll, in Ebony.

I remember passing the time on Saturday in the barbor shop, reading Jet.

I liked Jet so much, I kept the subscription I was given as a gift, even in college. Someone in the first year dorm mailroom liked it as well. It was often late.

Ebony was said to be the "Black version of Life magazine". I think the mission was accomplished.

The man created a successful enterprise that will last beyond his passing. The man created a publication that gave Negroes the chance to see some of the positive and lighter side of the Negro life.

On the business side and the media side, job well done, sir.
Salute!