Remembering a Black Business Icon
George E. Johnson Sr., Founder of Pioneering Black Hair Care Empire, Dies at 99
George E. Johnson Sr., the entrepreneur who built one of America's most celebrated Black-owned businesses, has died at 99. Johnson and his late wife, Joan, founded Johnson Products in 1954, creating a hair care empire that became a symbol of Black economic power, according to Yahoo Finance.
Johnson Products was the first Black-owned company listed on the American Stock Exchange. The Chicago-based firm grew into a multi-million dollar business and sponsored the iconic 1970s television show "Soul Train," according to NH Register.
From 1954 Startup to Stock Exchange Pioneer
Johnson launched his company with Joan by his side in 1954. At the time, Black entrepreneurs had almost no presence on major stock exchanges. Johnson Products changed that by becoming the first Black-owned firm to list on the American Stock Exchange. That milestone made Johnson a trailblazer not just in hair care, but in American business history, according to KTAR.
The company's flagship products, including the famous Afro Sheen line, served Black consumers who were largely ignored by mainstream beauty brands. Johnson saw a gap in the market and built a business around it. His success proved that Black-owned companies could compete at the highest levels of American commerce.
Soul Train Sponsorship Cemented a Cultural Legacy
Johnson Products became the primary sponsor of "Soul Train," the groundbreaking music and dance show that launched in 1970. The partnership put Afro Sheen products in front of millions of Black viewers every week. It was more than advertising — it was a statement of Black pride and self-determination, according to News4Jax.
The show and the brand grew together through the decade. "Soul Train" became one of the longest-running syndicated shows in television history. Johnson's sponsorship helped make that possible, tying his company's identity to one of Black America's most beloved cultural institutions.
A Memoir and a Business Career That Spanned Decades
In 2024, Johnson published his memoir, "Afro Sheen: How I Revolutionized an Industry with the Golden Rule." The book offered a look inside his life and the principles that guided his business decisions. He was 98 years old when the memoir came out, according to MyNorthwest.
Johnson's influence extended beyond hair care. He served on the board of directors of Commonwealth Edison, Illinois's major electric utility. His ability to earn a seat at the table in industries well beyond his own showed the full reach of his success.
A Life That Reshaped Black Entrepreneurship in America
Johnson built his company at a time when Black business owners faced enormous barriers. Access to capital, shelf space, and stock markets was often denied to them. He pushed through those walls and created something that lasted for generations, according to Tri City Record.
His death at 99 closes a chapter in American business history. But his legacy lives on in the products he created, the show he helped build, and every Black entrepreneur who pointed to Johnson Products as proof that it could be done.
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