B{+} Thanks Vernon Johns

February 2, 2012 Posted by MelanieM in Be Inspired, Community

Vernon Johns (April 22, 1892- June 11, 1965)

Vernon Johns was a minister at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church (Dr. King’s predecessor) and civil rights leader who was ahead of his time. Johns built the platform for Civil Rights iconic figures such as Dr. King and Malcolm X, and was a mentor of Southern Christian Leadership Conference members such as Ralph Abernathy and Wyatt Walker. Because of his mentoring role, he is thought of to be the “father of the Civil Rights Movement”. Johns’ sermons spoke very sternly to African Americans on fighting for their rights and even went as far as calling anyone who did not stand up “hypocrites”. He scolded his congregation, and these direct sermons about social justice were not well accepted. His congregation was afraid of retaliation, but he stressed that the consequences of the economic, social, and political segregation was a much greater fear. Johns fought against segregation laws by asking that his bus fare be refunded when asked to move to the back, and ordering food from all white restaurants. Johns also encouraged women to press charges against their white rapist and helped these women with their cases. Even though the cases were never won, getting into to courtroom was an accomplishment in itself.

Johns saw economic independence as a means for blacks to gain freedom and equality. He encouraged blacks to work hard for their earnings, but also to invest their money back into their communities. Johns wrote sermons to address the everyday realities of life for blacks in his time, and he was the first African-American preacher to have a sermon published. Some of his more famous sermons of the late 1940s and early 1950s included “Segregation After Death,” “It’s Safe to Murder Negroes in Montgomery,” and “When the Rapist Is White.”

Johns’ Love of Education

Johns believed heavily in the power of education; however, his parents could not afford to send him to school. Johns did not allow this to keep him from learning and he simply taught himself. Johns was known for his remarkable memory, which he used to memorize poems, the works of great philosophers and writers, such as Aristotle and Shakespeare, as well as passages from the Bible. Incredibly he was able to teach himself Greek, German, and Latin. Johns received his formal education at the Virginia Theological Seminary and College in Lynchburg, Virginia, and he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1915.

Johns later applied to Theological Seminary at Oberlin College, but his application was rejected. Johns went to the college to speak to Dean G.W. Fiske personally. Fiske was reluctant to accept Johns as a student because he did not think he had sufficient night school credits for admission. According to African American Orators, Johns replied to Fiske, “Do you want students with credits or students with brains?” Fiske then tested Johns’ knowledge, including his skills in Greek and German, and he was impressed with Johns’ abilities. Fiske finally admitted Jones to the seminary as a provisional student. Despite backlash from students such as Robert M. Hutchins (future president of the University of Chicago) who said that it was impossible for a “country Negro” to make the grades Johns did without cheating, Johns grades secured his spot as a full student, and topped his class (including Hutchins). In 1918 Johns received his Bachelor of Divinity degree from Oberlin and he was ordained in the Baptist ministry. He was even selected for the honor of giving the student oration at Oberlin’s Memorial Arch.

Vernon Johns, thank you for showing us that no matter what road blocks we face, anything is truly possible. You did not wait for a following, but took your own direction and made your own path. This road is one that many leaders have used to make historical changes here in this country and none of it would be possible without you.

We salute you,

B. Positive Magazine

Join us for YP Night at Steel B{+} Thanks Claudette Colvin