Jeff Johnson
Within the hip-hop community and abroad, Jeff Johnson serves as a voice of strength for a generation. An architect for social change, as well as an innate ability to both influence and inspire, Johnson is one of today’s most gifted leaders in both the political and entertainment arenas. Recently, Johnson was named by Source Magazine as one of the hip hop generation’s key political players.
Johnson’s roles as an activist and strategist have spanned from serving as the National Youth Director for the NAACP to being the founder for My Nation Online.com, an online medium connecting young people ages 16-30 interested in activism, as well as local and national organizations.
In every aspect of his political leadership, Johnson has been highly instrumental in representing and articulating the views of young people and galvanizing voters to the polls. Johnson’s powerful reputation as a political organizer caused hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons to take notice, leading Simmons to appoint Johnson as Vice-President for the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network.
In 2004, upon recognizing his socio-political influence and media adeptness, network executives at BET offered Johnson a unique opportunity to present his views to the hip-hop generation nationally through a consistent media vehicle. Thus, Rap City’s Cousin Jeff was born. Johnson was the first correspondent BET sent to cover the Democratic and Republican National Conventions for their entertainment programming line-up.
Shortly thereafter, Johnson began producing his own show, the Jeff Johnson Chronicles. The chronicles addressed issues relevant to young people in urban America. From sex to Hip-Hop Obesity, it provided a fresh venue for engaging youth in current affairs and news issues in a way not seen since BET’s highly successful and groundbreaking forum Teen Summit.
Recently, Johnson has taken on additional roles at BET including co-hosting Meet The Faith and becoming an international correspondent for the network. Johnson was the only American reporter to receive an exclusive interview with the continent of Africa’s first female head of state, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf in Liberia. He also regularly provides columns and commentary for several leading urban lifestyle magazines.
Johnson has successfully merged a lifetime of grassroots activism, media savvy and leadership to start a lifestyle consulting firm; Truth Is Power, which specializes in leadership and curriculum development, media strategy and social branding. His commitment to fostering broad-based communication about issues related to race, politics, popular culture and socio-economics on a national and international level have led to hundreds of speaking requests, as he travels the nation addressing large crowds speaking truth to power.
Of special interest to Johnson is creating dialogue between the African-American and Latino community. Forging this connection provides the foundation for his first book, Black and Brown: The Conversation On Race America Has Never Had, which is due for release in 2008.
As a voice for social change, Johnson is passionate about his work. “The time is now,” he asserts. “The youth of today are the leaders of TODAY. If we fail to sow the seeds of education and real leadership into our young people today, we will be forced to reap the weeds of our ignorance verses the flowers of our love tomorrow.”
Within the hip-hop community and abroad, Jeff Johnson serves as a voice of strength for a generation. An architect for social change, as well as an innate ability to both influence and inspire, Johnson is one of today’s most gifted leaders in both the political and entertainment arenas. Recently, Johnson was named by Source Magazine as one of the hip hop generation’s key political players.
Johnson’s roles as an activist and strategist have spanned from serving as the National Youth Director for the NAACP to being the founder for My Nation Online.com, an online medium connecting young people ages 16-30 interested in activism, as well as local and national organizations.
In every aspect of his political leadership, Johnson has been highly instrumental in representing and articulating the views of young people and galvanizing voters to the polls. Johnson’s powerful reputation as a political organizer caused hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons to take notice, leading Simmons to appoint Johnson as Vice-President for the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network.
In 2004, upon recognizing his socio-political influence and media adeptness, network executives at BET offered Johnson a unique opportunity to present his views to the hip-hop generation nationally through a consistent media vehicle. Thus, Rap City’s Cousin Jeff was born. Johnson was the first correspondent BET sent to cover the Democratic and Republican National Conventions for their entertainment programming line-up.
Shortly thereafter, Johnson began producing his own show, the Jeff Johnson Chronicles. The chronicles addressed issues relevant to young people in urban America. From sex to Hip-Hop Obesity, it provided a fresh venue for engaging youth in current affairs and news issues in a way not seen since BET’s highly successful and groundbreaking forum Teen Summit.
Recently, Johnson has taken on additional roles at BET including co-hosting Meet The Faith and becoming an international correspondent for the network. Johnson was the only American reporter to receive an exclusive interview with the continent of Africa’s first female head of state, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf in Liberia. He also regularly provides columns and commentary for several leading urban lifestyle magazines.
Johnson has successfully merged a lifetime of grassroots activism, media savvy and leadership to start a lifestyle consulting firm; Truth Is Power, which specializes in leadership and curriculum development, media strategy and social branding. His commitment to fostering broad-based communication about issues related to race, politics, popular culture and socio-economics on a national and international level have led to hundreds of speaking requests, as he travels the nation addressing large crowds speaking truth to power.
Of special interest to Johnson is creating dialogue between the African-American and Latino community. Forging this connection provides the foundation for his first book, Black and Brown: The Conversation On Race America Has Never Had, which is due for release in 2008.
As a voice for social change, Johnson is passionate about his work. “The time is now,” he asserts. “The youth of today are the leaders of TODAY. If we fail to sow the seeds of education and real leadership into our young people today, we will be forced to reap the weeds of our ignorance verses the flowers of our love tomorrow.”
