The extraordinary life of Reverend John Howard Johnson, a great athlete at Columbia University, a renowned clergyman and the last president of the Negro National League and the vibrant history of Harlem is told in Harlem's First Citizen by Dr. Lawrence D. Hogan.
Dr. Hogan, Professor of History Emeritus from Union County College in New Jersey, joined SportsJam with Doug Doyle to talk about the amazing story of Rev. John Johnson.
Larry has taught African American History for 37 years. He’s also a baseball historian and the author of several books about the Negro Leagues. His exhibit on the history of Black baseball has been on display at sites throughout the country. Dr. Hogan's work has led to several episodes of SportsJam.
As the last president of the Negro National League and the founding rector of St. Martin's Episcopal Church, Reverend John Howard Johnson, who died in 1995, left an indelible mark on African American baseball and the spiritual community of Harlem.
This book uncovers a hidden chapter in history, shedding light on the remarkable legacy of Reverend Johnson and the vibrant tapestry of Harlem's rich heritage.
Much of the information that Dr. Hogan reveals in Harlem's First Citizen came from David Johnson, the Reverend’s son, but Dr. Hogan had already thought about the idea of writing about the influential clergyman.
"I met David when I was researching for one of the Black baseball books. As I discovered who John Johnson was from David first and then subsequently David being a major source for the continued writing of the book, I knew I had somebody special."
Dr. Hogan is most proud of how Harlem's First Citizen counters many of the negative stereotypes about the Harlem neighborhood at that time.
"John Johnson at St. Martin's, the other churches in the area and other aspects of Harlem clearly refute those stereotypes. Clearly he does refute those stereotypes. That was one of the features that I liked about the research I was doing and meeting David Johnson."
The author points out that music, art and culture were extremely rich in Harlem during the time Rev. Johnson was in charge at St. Martin's. Places like the Savoy Ballroom and the emergence of the Lindy Hop.
"It was very much an exciting time, a time when music played a major role in Harlem. The coming of great musicians like 'Satcho' and quite a number of others. Music came into the church in a big way. This was the church he was restoring at the time, a church he inherited from Holy Trinity Church, an Episcopal congregation that had suffered a great fire. Music that was a part of Harlem was also the church itself with outstanding choir leaders. This is the Harlem Renaissance we're talking out."
Reverend Johnson’s father, John Wesley Johnson and his wife migrated from Virginia to New York City and eventually became the pastor at what he would call St. Cyprians. John Wesley Johnson died in 1930. His funeral was front page news on Harlem’s leading newspaper, The New York Age.
Reverend John Howard Johnson loved sports. He was a star basketball player at Columbia University in the early 1920’s. He was the first Black American to play on the Lion’s varsity squad and was inducted into Columbia’s Hall of Fame in 2014. Johnson finished in the top-five of league scoring during both the 1919-20 and 1920-21 seasons and was one of the premier forwards of his time. Some of his best performances with Columbia included 19 scoring points in a 28-25 victory over Dartmouth in 1920 and pouring in 11 in a 15-14 victory over CCNY in 1921.
One of the most famous athletes who was inspired by Rev. Johnson was the champion boxer Sugar Ray Robinson. Sugar Ray trained at the gym at St. Martin's.
"Sugar Ray Robinson was just entering into the boxing world when he trained at St. Martin's to become the great fighter that he was. When he becomes Middleweight Champion of the World, at that moment at the end of the fight again Gene Fulmer, he points to the television cameras and says 'That's for you Rev. Johnson' which shows Robinson's acknowledgement of how Rev. Johnson helped him become a great champion."
You can SEE the entire SportsJam interview with Dr. Lawrence D. Hogan here.
