Howard University establishes John H. Johnson School of Communications during 136th Opening Convocation

Called a "fitting tribute to a pioneer in publishing," Howard University recently renamed its School of Communications after John H. Johnson, founder of the largest African-American-owned publishing company in the world, placing him among other national icons with strong connections to the Washington, D.C., school.

During its Opening Convocation ceremony marking the beginning of the school's 136th academic year, government officials, students, alumni, faculty, administrators and trustees stood and cheered when the official announcement was read renaming the school "The John H. Johnson School of Communications." The university also presented the Johnson Publishing Company chairman with an honorary doctor of humane letters degree as well as its Citation of Achievement and medal honoring his accomplishments.

Howard President H. Patrick Swygert said that Johnson's "contributions to journalism have played an extraordinary role in chronicling the struggles and successes of African-Americans in all facets of life. By defying the odds and breaking negative stereotypes, he set a higher standard for journalism and opened doors for African-American publishers. It is very fitting and with a deep sense of gratitude that we recognize the accomplishments of Mr. Johnson by naming the School of Communications in his honor."

Black Enterprise magazine Publisher Earl G. Graves Sr., who delivered the keynote address honoring Publisher Johnson, also was given the university's Citation of Achievement Award.

Graves stated, "There would not have been an Earl Graves had there not been a John Johnson."

Attending the convocation was the Rev. Jesse Jackson, actor Ossie Davis, who was named a visiting professor, and United Negro College Fund President William H. Gray III.

Gray spoke about the impact that Johnson Publishing Company's financial donations have had on the UNCF's 39 member schools, and the impact the company's publications have had on the Black community and him personally. "If I ever have to make the choice between being in the New York Times and the JET, I will choose the JET every time." Moved by the honor, Johnson, who recently donated $4 million to Howard, made brief remarks to the gathering, specifically to the students. He passed along words of wisdom that his mother Gertrude Johnson Williams had given him about working hard and never giving up shortly after he started his publishing company some 60 years ago. "She said to me, 'If you're trying, if you are really trying, then you're never failing," he said.

A few days earlier, in an address to the United States Congress on the floor of the House of Representatives, Rep. Danny Davis (D-IL) called Publisher Johnson a "national treasure," adding that "we are all impacted for the better by his vision and his implementation of the first of our great freedoms, the freedom of speech and freedom of the press."

The John H. Johnson School of Communications is one of the fastest-growing schools at the university. Founded 31 years ago, it offers undergraduate, master's and doctorate degrees in journalism, communication and culture, communication sciences and disorders, and radio, television and film.

Howard has a long history of deep associations with African-American icons, including: former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, Ralph Bunche, the first African-American Nobel laureate, famed surgeon Dr. Charles Drew, historian Carter G. Woodson, writer Zora Neale Hurston, and activist Kwame Ture (Stokely Carmichael).

Johnson started Johnson Publishing Company in 1942 by launching Negro Digest, a publication that focused on current events of interest to African-Americans. In 1945, he launched his second publication, EBONY, highlighting the achievements of African-Americans. Six years later, he created JET Magazine, the famed Black newsweekly.

Among the honors that Johnson has received are the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Spingarn Medal, the Horatio Alger Award, the Magazine Publisher's Association's Publisher of the Year Award and 31 honorary degrees from major universities.