[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 118 (Tuesday, September 20, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H8134-H8135]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               COMMEMORATING THE LIFE OF JOHN H. JOHNSON

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Lewis) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, like my colleague, the gentleman 
from Illinois (Mr. Davis), I rise tonight to salute an extraordinary 
and gifted American.
  John H. Johnson had a vision and used that vision to destroy negative 
racial stereotypes and to expand opportunities for all African 
Americans and for all Americans. With a dream and a $500 loan, secured 
by his mother's furniture, Mr. Johnson began publishing the ``Negro 
Digest'' in 1942. With very limited resources and his dream, he built 
an empire that included publishing and cosmetics.
  Through his work and his vision, he has made a lasting contribution. 
``Jet'' and ``Ebony'' provided a window to the African American 
community that benefited African Americans and all Americans. ``Ebony'' 
and ``Jet'' became part of the dialogue. It was a way of communicating. 
We read it in our homes, schools, and in the barber shops and beauty 
shops.
  There is a saying in the African American community: ``If it is in 
`Jet,' it must be true.'' In the pages of ``Jet'' magazine, we read the 
current news that had an impact on the African American community. In 
the pages of ``Ebony,'' people saw how other people lived; and we 
aspired to be like the people we saw on those pages. The pages of his 
magazine inspired and motivated generations of African Americans. It 
also helped to break down racial stereotypes by offering positive 
images and stories of African American men and women.
  In 1957 and in 1959, he accompanied Vice President Richard M. Nixon 
on a special goodwill tour to nine African countries and to Russia and 
Poland. In 1961, he was appointed by President John F. Kennedy as 
Special U.S. Ambassador to the Independence Ceremonies of the Ivory 
Coast. And in 1963, he was appointed by President Lyndon B. Johnson as 
Special United States Ambassador to the Independence Ceremonies of 
Kenya. In 1996, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by 
President Bill Clinton.

[[Page H8135]]

  Johnson was solid, dependable, and reliable. He helped to energize 
the African American community during the height of the civil rights 
movement. During the struggle for equality, he published the images of 
the murder of Emmett Till, which galvanized the civil rights movement. 
His magazines have been an anchor for African Americans and continue to 
do that today.
  His contribution to the African American community and to American 
life was unique and significant, and tonight we all salute the memory 
of John Johnson.

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