Joan Johnson, who co-founded the black hair company that made Afro Sheen, has died

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: CNN

(CNN) Joan Johnson, who helped create one of the nation's largest black-owned companies, has died.
Johnson, 89, co-founded Johnson Products Company, the pioneering black hair care company which made iconic products such as Ultra Sheen and Afro Sheen. She died Friday in Chicago after a long illness.

She started Johnson Products Company in Chicago in 1954 with her husband, George Johnson. They took a $250 investment and turned it into a multi-million dollar company which became the first black-owned company to be traded on the American Stock Exchange (now known as NYSE American). "When I think about pioneers, the real pioneers are the people who are able to make a path where none exists," her son Eric G. Johnson told CNN. "Johnson Products in many ways was that company. She and my father had no provided path. They created a path where there was none." Eric Johnson said his mother was the true matriarch of the family.

" (Joan was) someone I always admired," publicist Dori Wilson told CNN. Wilson had known Johnson since about 1970 and said Johnson and her husband were role models for many. The Johnsons were the first successful family we in the African American communities read about," she said. "She was perceived as a shrewd and smart businesswoman. I can't remember any other product that was really synonymous with the African American community."

The company also helped the growth of another American icon which got its start in Chicago: "Soul Train." In the early 1970s Johnson Products became a sponsor of the groundbreaking TV dance and musical variety program, which went on to run in national syndication for almost four decades.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2019/09/09/us/joan-johnson-death-obit-trnd/index.html

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R.I.P. Rarely heard her name mentioned but they were a big part of the black community in terms of providing products for us.

ETA - had to add this as many of us remember this (and similar commercials back in the day) -

[oasis]

1. May she rest in peace. Thanks for posting.

[Hekate]

2. RIP Joan Johnson. TY for this post

[lunasun]

3. Big name here in Chicago.

Her funeral will be @ Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago
(Some here may remember that as the church where the Obamas were married in Chicago )

Link to tweet

?s=21

[CaptainTruth]

4. RIP - A true entrepreneur.

[BlueWI]

5. Great post in tribute to a big life!!

Thanks, Ms. Johnson. RIP.

[kimbutgar]

6. My aunt who lived in Chicago used to tell me stories of Mrs Johnson, her house, the servants,

And that she drove a new Cadillac every year. She was Chicago black society and was always in the black newspapers. She always wore her hair straight and used say she brought everything quadruplicate. One each for of her multiple homes. And her yacht. I read about her in a book years ago Certain Black people about America’s black elite by Stephen Birmingham. It was not really known in our country that there were a large class of uber rich black people who were not in the entertainment industry.

RIP Joan

[BumRushDaShow]

7. I wouldn't say

it was a "large class" when it comes to the overall stats of wealth in the U.S. I.e., it was (and still is) a minuscule percent. But I expect the bulk of upper/upper-middle class blacks were/are doctors and lawyers as there were (and still are) few "large" black-owned (non-entertainment related) businesses like a Johnson Products (where in their case, part of the time, the company was owned by Proctor & Gamble). And with the big push for diversity in the front offices, a number were/are upper managers in large white corporations - e.g., someone like a Kenneth Chenault, who was CEO of American Express for years up until last year, and Ann Fudge, who served as President of one of the biggest units of General Mills, etc. These being examples of the non-sports/non-entertainment (including authors) black wealthy.

[Haggis for Breakfast]

8. Thank you for this post.

Joan Johnson was an extraordinary woman.

[littlemissmartypants]

9. Thank you for posting this, BumRushDaShow.

Rest in Power, Mrs. Johnson.