Gerald W. Johnson
Gerald W. Johnson was a prominent American journalist, author, and television commentator born in North Carolina in the 1890s. He graduated from Wake Forest College in 1911 and served in World War I before embarking on a career in journalism. Johnson's work included notable roles at the Greensboro Daily News and the Baltimore Evening Sun, where he became known for his bold criticism of social injustices and his opposition to the Ku Klux Klan. His editorial stances often put him at odds with his employers and established figures, particularly during the 1950s when he openly challenged Senator Joseph McCarthy's anti-communist witch hunts. In 1952, he gained significant attention as a commentator during the presidential conventions, leading to his own television show, "How Things Look From Bolton Street," which earned him several prestigious awards despite its short run. Throughout his career, Johnson authored over forty books, including biographies and political commentaries, with well-known titles like "This American People" and "The Lunatic Fringe," which explored themes of freedom of speech and nonconformity. Johnson's legacy is marked by his unwavering commitment to expressing his views and advocating for social justice through multiple media platforms.
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Gerald W. Johnson
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- Born: August 6, 1890
- Birthplace: Riverton, North Carolina
- Died: March 22, 1980
- Place of death: Baltimore, Maryland
Biography
Gerald W. Johnson was born in North Carolina in the 1890’s. He attended Wake Forest College, graduating in 1911. Johnson fought in France in World War I, and upon his return to America became the associate editor of the Greensboro Daily News. Johnson used his platform as a journalist to attack the Klu Klux Klan and criticize social and political injustice. His controversial stance on many issues often left him at odds with his employers, which included the Baltimore Evening Sun. In the 1950’s, Johnson took an extraordinary stand against Senator Joseph McCarthy’s witch hunt for communists within the American government.
In 1952, Johnson appeared as a commentator on that year’s presidential conventions. His commentary was both immensely popular and highly controversial and aired more than 140 times. In 1953, Johnson was granted his own television show, How Things Look From Bolton Street, on which he discussed current affairs. The show earned Johnson several awards, including the George Foster Peabody Award and the Sidney Hellman Foundation Award. Despite its popularity, the show only lasted a year on ABC. There is speculation that Johnson’s criticism of McCarthy, who had great influence over the networks, was the reason for the show’s short run. Though he no longer had his own show, Johnson continued to use television to express his views to the American public.
A prolific writer, Johnson produced more than forty biographies, novels, histories, political commentaries, and children’s books during his lifetime. He also contributed articles to various newspapers, including the Greensboro Daily News and the Baltimore Evening Sun. One of Johnson’s best-known works is 1951’s This American People, covering such topics as the freedom of speech and communist paranoia. Another popular work is 1957’s The Lunatic Fringe, which champions nonconformity.