Statue honoring legendary publisher John H. Johnson erected at Delta Heritage Trail State Park

A statue honoring influential African American magazine publisher John H. Johnson was unveiled Wednesday (Nov. 1) at Delta Heritage Trail State Park in Arkansas City, Arkansas.

Johnson, who published Ebony and Jet magazines, was born in Arkansas City, Arkansas in 1918. He passed away in 2005.

Johnson and his family left Arkansas in 1932 and moved to Chicago. There, he was introduced to the publishing business, and in 1945, the first issue of Ebony rolled off the presses. Six years later, Johnson began publishing Jet.

During the 2019 session of the Arkansas General Assembly, legislators voted to make November 1 “John H. Johnson Day” in Arkansas to honor the accomplishments of the legendary publisher and businessman.

Linda Johnson Rice, Johnson’s daughter and current President and CEO of Johnson Publishing, and his other daughter, Alexa Rice, attended the unveiling of their father’s statue. They noted that his humble beginnings, which included picking cotton in the Arkansas Delta, gave him the foundation to have an impact on how African Americans were viewed in the United States.

“By publishing Ebony and Jet, my father was able to show black people and their way of life with a sense of purpose and pride.” Johnson Rice said. “Through his work, he showed that black people are to be valued and respected.”

Arkansas sculptor Susan Holley Smith, who grew up in Dumas, 20 miles from Johnson’s home, was selected by Arkansas State Parks and the Walton Family Foundation to sculpt the statue for the state park.

“It was a challenging, nine-month undertaking because the statue can’t just look like Mr. Johnson, but it also has to capture his essence,” Smith said.

“The statue, first and foremost, looks like my father, but it also captures his strength and determination balanced with his warmth and humor,” said Johnson Rice.

The statue will be maintained by Arkansas State Parks.