Dr. Arthur Johnson reminisced about his times at Morehouse College, when he was classmates with Martin Luther King Jr.
“He didn’t know he would be great at that time, but we knew,” Johnson said.
Johnson, a legendary Detroit civil rights pioneer and community leader, was featured at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History on Nov. 12 in celebration of his new book “Race and Remembrance.”
The book is a memoir about the life and times of Johnson. A former professor of educational sociology at Wayne State for more than 25 years, Johnson gave a front-row seat inside his past with a Q&A session, covering how he feels about President-elect Barack Obama and the importance of history.
Dr. Lerone Bennett Jr., author and executive editor of Ebony Magazine, and Dr. Charles Willie, from the Graduate School of Education at Harvard University, joined in on the Q&A as well.
How do you feel about Obama making history and becoming president?
Willie: I was very excited about possible real change because the nation is getting better drawing on talents of all people. Obama is the new marginal man because he has an understanding of more than one culture, which can open up something for society. MLK was a marginal man as well as Moses.
Bennett Jr.: I am concerned about the lack of historical understanding. The 60s created a great American Revolution. Another revolution changed the north and the south a sense that main stream doesn’t understand. The revolution has to be understood. This is not the beginning of the end of work. We all have to work. People played a part in getting him elected, now it’s our time to work. It depends on us. What do we want for the world? What do we want out history to look like? History made Obama possible.
Johnson: Expression of the election of the new president had an impact unlike any other. Dreams are possible. We need to be ready to take the full advantage. It inspired me to see this election. Things happened that people said wouldn’t and couldn’t happen. But, change is yet to come. We still have a long road to follow.
Why do you feel it’s important to know history?
B: In 1865, the 13th amendment was passed. Blacks were walking all over the South because it was a new change — freedom. Brown vs. Board of Education was passed; people were crying, “The end of colored.” But you fool, we haven’t begun work yet. Study your history, organize and mobilize. We couldn’t drink white water. How did Arthur get to where he is? He never gave up even after having setbacks.
W: If you don’t know the past you will repeat it. You can’t know about the future unless you have a concept of the past. J: The young black population take on it was they went out to vote and they lost. The Bush crowd stole the election, and I was surprised that they went that far. This brought us to a new realization that the fight is still on, and it will be our challenge to make sure our young new president seize the opportunity.
Why did you write this book?
J: I believe we are critical, and we have to recognize good will will not deliver if we are not active in the movement. We have to be prepared to fight, but all are encouraged to believe that we can do it without fighting — no two ways about it. I wanted to show the young people in this book about history and explain that the story is not over and truth is power and there is not right time. The time is now.
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