We’re celebrating an important anniversary related to the forthcoming book, “Afro Sheen: How I Revolutionized an Industry with the Golden Rule, from Soul Train to Wall Street,” by George Ellis Johnson, 97, founder of the Johnson Products Company (JPC) and me.
On January 14, 1971, the Johnson Products Company became the first Black-owned company publicly traded on a major stock exchange, the American Stock Exchange.
Founded in 1954, in Chicago, JPC manufactured Ultra Sheen and Afro Sheen, was the financial sponsor of Soul Train, and with more than $200M in sales (today’s dollars) was once the largest Black-owned manufacturing company in the world. In 1999, the The Wall Street Journal featured George Johnson in its Special Report “10 Who Made a Difference: The minds that transformed entrepreneurship in the 20th century,” alongside Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates, Ray Kroc, Sam Walton, and others.
During an era in which many mainstream employers refused to hire African Americans and/or relegated Black employees to dangerous and undesirable roles, Johnson provided a loving work environment to more than 500 Chicagoans of all races and benefits many American workers still long for today: paid vacation, health insurance, onsite healthcare, profit sharing for all employees, tuition reimbursement, maternity leave with a guaranteed job upon return, 4-day holiday weekends, and more. George E. Johnson Educational Fund provided college scholarships to 1000 deserving students.
Little, Brown and Company will publish “Afro Sheen” on February 4th. You can pre-order “Afro Sheen” wherever books are sold; ideally by supporting a Black-owned bookshop.
#AfroSheen #Chicago #Bronzeville #SouthSide #SouthSideChicago #WindyCity #BlackBusiness #BlackEntrepreneurship #BlackExcellence #BlackHistory #BlackHistory365 #BlackHair #NaturalHair #AfricanAmericanHistory #AfricanAmerican #Anniversaries #WallStreet #BlackProfessionals #BlackAtWork #BlackCulture #BlackCommunity #BlackBusinessMatters
Happy Birthday @therealmaryjblige
I went to her birthday party last Saturday night. I was nervous to attend, but determined to go because ‘I’ve been loving Mary since “Real Love.’” (—Biggie. If you don’t know, now you know.) Meeting her in person was EVERYTHING. From the door, everyone was nice and welcoming. Thanks @nicolejackson5118 I could feel Mary’s beautiful spirit in the whole room. I went over to meet her and she is even more beautiful in person (Can you imagine?). She was radiant. Glowing. Her outfit dazzling. Her eyes so warm. Her smile sincere. Her skin so soft. And her perfume—mesmerizing. I can tell the love she has to give the world can barely be contained in her small body. Mary is a for real angel.
I stayed until 2am, something I never do. I’m a 5 minutes in and out girl. But I felt incredibly comfortable, like I was part of the family. I saw @queenlatifah@tamronhall@usher@fatjoe@taranajaneen .
I had nice chit chat with @woody_thegreat , who plays Mary’s badass son on @powerbook2_ghost@starz . My favorite show. Have to wait until March 17 to resume.
Remember to preorder Mary’s children’s book—Mary Can. And look for her adult book this year @littlebrown
We LOVE you GORGEOUS Mary!!!
Happy Publication Day Ms Jenifer Lewis!
There’s no one like her. She invited me to her home to work on the book and I spent 10 glorious days with her in LA in January. She generously flew me out first class in a sleeper. We wore bathrobes everyday and had our hair “on top of our heads.” We walked around the neighborhood and she gave me a lesson on every tree that we passed. Butters, her dog that I can’t get enough of, got into a visitor’s edibles and we had to rush him to the vet. (He’s fine, but I swear he spent the rest of my time there looking for his next high.) Laurie, thin as ice, cooked some good food—and thinks like an editor. Jenifer’s then assistant was a hoot. Through it all we worked day and night on the book. I’m proud of what’s she’s done. The early reviews have been stellar—2 out of 3 were ⭐️. Pillows by talented artist + maker @annevanderkloot
Jennifer, I hope the stars align. You deserve it!
❤️❤️❤️❤️
Happy Publication Day, Zain!!
#Wherethechildrentakeus is a spellbinding memoir that opens with a woman receiving shattering news that her husband and son have been in a terrible accident. In that instance she becomes a widowed immigrant left to raise four children in a neighborhood consumed with poverty and violence. Her struggle awakens an inner strength that—coupled with the rituals of radical mothering from her village—leads to the family’s salvation. This mother produced 4 outstanding children.
This is the best Mother’s Day gift I can imagine, as it pays tribute to women’s power and the power of family.
Zain it was a pleasure working on this incredible book together. Can’t wait to meet your mom!
Happy Publication Week, #dolenperkinsvaldez!! Thanks for sending the autographed copy. I also preordered. I started reading Take My Hand and am loving it! Dolen is incredibly talented. One of my favorite writers. Wench will remain one of my most beloved books forever. If you haven’t read Dolen’s work you are missing out.
bell hooks was a great writer and friend. I was her editor for four books. One year I went on book tour with her. She would collect toilet paper from every hotel we stayed. We were running to the Amtrak train and the toilet paper rolls fell out of bell’s bag. They were rolling every which way and she kept saying, “Get them!” We laughed about that for years. I also remember standing on the corner of 18th Street and 7th Avenue, as bell let me have it in the worst way for leaving Holt to go to S&S. But these photos are from her book party for Bone Black. Greg Tate was there. Edwidge Danticat. George C Wolf. Claude Brown (Manchild in the Promise Land). Verna Shamblee of McMillan. Marcia Wilson. So many people that bell loved. My dear, please Rest In Peace. Know you were loved and greatly admired. She was one of the most prolific Black women writers. She always said it was a privilege to publish.
A lovely dinner with Michael Twitty, author of the Cooking Gene @thecookinggene and forthcoming Koshersoul. @roosterharlem . I learned so much about experiencing the flavors in a dish. Wonderful conversation that I will never forget. Thanks for gifting the world with your knowledge and culinary skills, Michael. ❤️❤️@#thecookinggene
