George E. Johnson Sr., founder of a pioneering Black hair care business, dies at 99
Summary
George E. Johnson Sr., who started Johnson Products Company in 1954 and built it into a major Black-owned hair care business, died at age 99 in Chicago. His company was the first Black-owned firm listed on the American Stock Exchange and created popular brands like Afro Sheen and Ultra Sheen.Key Facts
- George E. Johnson Sr. founded Johnson Products Company with a $250 loan on Chicago’s South Side in 1954.
- Johnson Products focused on hair care products for Black people.
- The company was the first Black-owned business on the American Stock Exchange.
- Popular brands included Afro Sheen and Ultra Sheen.
- Johnson Products sponsored the 1970s TV show “Soul Train.”
- Johnson also founded Independence Bank and served on the board of Illinois electric utility Commonwealth Edison.
- Johnson was born in Mississippi in 1927 and moved to Chicago as a child during the First Great Migration.
- He published a memoir in 2024 explaining how he changed the hair care industry following the “golden rule” of treating people with respect.
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