| Summary: | Publisher John H. Johnson was born on January 19, 1918 in Arkansas City, Arkansas. After moving to Chicago and graduating high school, Johnson went to work for Supreme Life Insurance Company. In 1942, with a $500 loan and $6,000 in charter subscriptions, Johnson launched Negro Digest which later became Black World. In 1945, he launched Ebony magazine. In 1951, Johnson Publishing created JET magazine. Johnson also owned Fashion Fair Cosmetics, the largest black-owned cosmetics company. Johnson was involved at both the local and national levels, receiving several presidential appointments. He was sent to the Ivory Coast for the independence ceremonies as special ambassador by President John F. Kennedy. Johnson received numerous awards, including the Spingarn Medal and the Presidential Medal of Freedom, as well as more than thirty honorary doctoral degrees. Johnson passed away on August 8, 2005 at age 87.
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