John J. Johnson’s Biography

John J. Johnson’s Biography

His Story

John J. Johnson, born on February 10, 1945, in Louisville, Kentucky, has a rich family history tracing back to his mother’s maternal great grandparents, Prince (1826-1908) and Evelyn Martin (1819-1908), and her paternal grandparents, Alexander and Hester Johnson. Growing up in Franklin, Kentucky, Johnson faced segregation and racism, which shaped his early involvement in civil rights. During high school, he was active in the student government and NAACP Youth Council, becoming the youngest president of any Kentucky NAACP chapter at seventeen.

After high school, Johnson worked in a factory before joining the Kentucky Institute for Community Development as a coordinator of training services. In 1969, he became the director of operations for a national marketing and research firm in New York. Returning to Kentucky, he contributed to several War on Poverty programs and served as associate director of the Louisville and Jefferson County Human Relations Commission. Later, he was appointed director of community services for the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights.

In 1984, Johnson became the director of the Louisville and Jefferson County Community Action Agency. He then joined the NAACP in Baltimore, where he earned his B.S. degree in community development and public administration from Sojourner-Douglass College. Johnson held the position of Chief Programs Officer at the National Office of the NAACP, overseeing various programs including Armed Services and Veterans Affairs, Voter Empowerment, and Economic Outreach.

John J. Johnson retired as the executive director of the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights on January 1, 2020, after more than 12 years of honorable service. He worked tirelessly to advocate for civil rights and equal justice in the commonwealth..

“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”

- Isaiah 40:31