A Texas native, he grew up in Houston’s Fifth Ward and graduated from Wiley College with a Bachelor’s in history and government. Johnson served as the President of the Louisiana Prison Chapel Foundation for nearly two decades.
When many on the left talk about “systemic racism,” they often cite redlining—the practice of segregating neighborhoods through mortgage restrictions and other tools—as one of most effective measures for keeping the races separate. Redlining, they contend, has resulted in worse economic and physical health for Black communities. But the left is fully on board with...
In Texas, African-Americans have long celebrated Juneteenth as a pivotal point in our history. It commemorates the day, June 19, 1865, when Union Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger read aloud Executive Order No. 3 in Galveston, Texas. He gave notice to Texas that all slaves were free—declaring “an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of...
Growing up in one of the most politically active communities in Houston, I was taught from an early age that voting was our most important civic duty. My father would always say “If you don’t vote, you don’t count.” In those days, people had a great deal of confidence in one another and our electoral...
Would the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. recognize the civil rights movement of today —92 years after his birth, and more than 57 years after his famous “I Have a Dream” speech? I don’t believe he would. The just goals he fought for, equal opportunity for all and a color-blind society, have been set aside by...
The LeBron James Family Foundation (LJFF) in partnership with Stand Together held a conference in Akron, Ohio, which was an eye opening experience on educational innovation. The organizations operate within the framework of the Akron public school system to provide a first of its kind, complete wrap-around of support services to the students, siblings, and...
President Obama’s speech on fatherhood, delivered in 2008, called out men who had deserted their families and communities — “They have abandoned their responsibilities, acting like boys instead of men. And the foundations of our families are weaker because of it.” “You and I know how true this is in the African-American community,” he added. “We...
With all the talk about seemingly irreconcilable differences between Americans of varying races, it might be helpful to focus on something that unites us all—the American dream of creating a better life for ourselves and our families. What every American has in common is not just that goal, but also the pathways—education and job training. Still, it’s...
Few things matter more to parents than ensuring their children have a high-quality education that equips them with the tools and experiences necessary to succeed. Lower-income parents are keenly aware that an education may be the only way for their children to overcome a lifetime of low-wage, dead-end jobs. And, given that functional illiteracy plagues...
It’s time for some hard truths about education. Our current system is failing too many Texas students, especially low-income and minority children. This has been the case for a long time, but the current coronavirus situation has shined a much-needed spotlight on the problem. Unfortunately, Texas isn’t prepared for the fall semester because no matter...
The tragic death of George Floyd has brought about a renewed focus on social justice, with so many of us thinking over the past few weeks, “Surely, we can do better.” As the dust settles from nationwide riots and inexplicable campaigns to defund the police, it’s time to take a serious look at the real-world...
Years ago the commencement speaker at my graduation from Wiley College in Marshall was James Farmer, founder of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) and organizer of the very first Freedom Ride in 1961. Following the ceremony, he shook my hand and said, “It’s your turn now to go out and change the world.” Like...
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought the nation and world together, but it is also highlighting some inequalities. As our nation is unleashing trillions of dollars in aid to fight the outbreak — and to save the economy — we must not make those inequalities worse. Contrast the tax code with the higher education portions of...