John Harold Johnson

John Harold Johnson, written by Bertram T. Knight and published by Crestwood House in 1998, is part of the 'Contemporary African Americans' series. This series was designed to provide accessible, educational biographical accounts for younger readers, documenting the lives of significant figures who shaped American culture and business. The volume focuses on the life of John H. Johnson, the founder of Johnson Publishing Company, who was a seminal figure in media as the publisher of Ebony and Jet magazines.

The book serves as a straightforward, informative tribute to Johnson’s entrepreneurial success and his role in documenting African American life during the twentieth century. Crestwood House, a publisher then known for its focus on school and library markets, aimed to fill a gap in biographical literature for students. The work is characterized by its clear, direct narrative style, intended to introduce a younger generation to Johnson's influence as a trailblazer in journalism and civil rights advocacy.