Derrick Johnson
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@NAACP 19th President & CEO, Activist, Leader & Mississippian
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Articles by Derrick Johnson
The Next Fight for Fair Housing Is Online Original
For generations, homeownership has been one of the clearest pathways to economic opportunity in America, particularly for Black and Brown communities. A home has never been just four walls and a roof. It has helped parents send children to college, start businesses, and create opportunities that last for generations. But that pathway is under strain. Families are facing inflation, stagnant wages, limited housing supply and historically high home prices.
‘Sinners’ Dominates NAACP Image Awards Nominations
classical actor Love Music UPS Amal Clooney Is Timeless in Red and Diamonds at the 2026 Golden Globes It’s not a true red carpet until the Clooneys have arrived.Hollywood’s most glamorous couple made their entrance at the 2026 Golden Globes, stealing the spotlight not just with their style but also their movie-worthy romance.The British barrister was classic in a bright-red column dress from Balmain with a romantic sweetheart neckline.
The cost of AI is being dumped on you Original
The hidden cost of AI is right in front of us. Big Tech is building sprawling AI data centers in our backyards, and they’re making you pay for it. To make matters worse, these dirty data centers often pollute the air with asthma and cancer-causing chemicals. That means families are paying twice: once with their wallets and again with their health. There’s no doubt: AI is set to reshape how we live and work. It will transform medicine, education, business and government.
High Prices, Lost Jobs: It's Trump's Economy
Under this administration, the economy is failing everyday Americans. Black women have been hit the hardest having lost more than 300,000 jobs since Trump took office. Gainful employment is disappearing, wages aren't keeping up, and families are being squeezed from every direction. Grocery prices are higher than ever. Rent, utilities, and childcare costs continue to rise.
Bang Bang Alum & Fine-Line Tattoo Artist Derrick Johnson Opens Private NYC Studio and Launches Online Booking
Bang Bang Alum & Fine-Line Tattoo Artist Derrick Johnson Opens Private NYC Studio and Launches Online Booking A fine-line micro-realism tattoo of a skeleton samurai, rendered with detailed armor, text overlay, and dynamic shading—one of Derrick Johnson’s signature black-ink pieces. “Here Today, Gone Tomorrow”—a forearm piece by Derrick Johnson featuring a cloaked skeletal figure, created in single-needle fine-line style with layered symbolism.
Opinion | 5 years after George Floyd’s murder, policing is worse
Five years ago, the world watched a video of a man, whose neck was pressed under the knee of a Minneapolis police officer, begging for his life. “I can’t breathe,” George Floyd said. Over and over. Twenty-seven times. Until he was choked to death. George Floyd was a father. A friend. A human. And his life mattered. His murder was a tragedy. But it also revealed a truth.
71 years later, what Brown v. Board still teaches us
Seventy-one years ago today, on May 17, 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a unanimous decision in Brown v. Board of Education, striking down the lie that “separate but equal” could ever be just. It was a decision shaped over decades, carried forward by brave families, students, and attorneys who believed in something greater than themselves. They believed in the power of education. In the dignity of every child. And in the promise of America, even when America failed to keep that promise.
IBM and Oracle Expand Partnership to Advance Agentic AI and Hybrid Cloud
The enterprise landscape is undergoing a tectonic shift. AI is no longer confined to labs or limited to isolated tasks like sentiment analysis or data tagging. With the emergence of Agentic AI, the rules are being rewritten. AI agents are autonomous, context-aware, goal-driven and are now able to operate across complex, hybrid and multi-vendor technology stacks. At the vanguard of this transformation stand two enterprise powerhouses: IBM and Oracle.
Skip the lectures: Black voters would rather be heard Original
In the weeks leading up to Nov. 5, Black Americans saw the same saga unfold that has plagued our politics for decades. Candidates invested millions in out-of-touch advisors, leading to surface-level interactions — and even worse, to the perpetuation of harmful stereotypes as a way to appeal to one of the largest, most reliable voting blocs in a nation that often leaves us last.
NAACP president to Gov. Parson: Call me to discuss saving Marcellus Williams' life Original
A Black man is scheduled to be lynched tomorrow. But he is innocent. DNA evidence proves it. Governor Mike Parson can stop this execution before it is too late. In 1998, Mr. Marcellus Williams was wrongfully accused of killing Felicia Gayle. And he has spent 24 years in prison despite not committing this crime. According to the prosecuting attorney of the county of St. Louis, "none of this physical evidence tied Mr. Williams to Ms. Gayle's murder." He even filed a motion to reverse the conviction.
For Black college athletes, this is the bus boycott of our era
College sports fans across America are gathering in arenas and around television sets to watch March Madness, the high point of the NCAA basketball season and a national sports obsession. Making it to the tournament is the culmination of years of practice, sometimes for hours a day beginning in grade school. It may demand years of participation on travel teams, summer sports camps and youth recreation leagues.
OPINION: We must act to protect our future - Jackson Advocate
By Derrick Johnson President, NAACP In the wake of a new wave of anti-DEI attacks targeting universities in Florida, the NAACP sent a letter to NCAA President Charlie Baker, addressed to current and prospective student-athletes. I wanted to share my thoughts with you as well because this is not about politics. It’s about the protection of our community, the progression of our culture, and most of all, it’s about education and our future.
For Black College Athletes, This is the Bus Boycott Of Our Era
Opinion by Derrick Johnson, CNN (CNN) — College sports fans across America are gathering in arenas and around television sets this week for the start of March Madness, the highpoint of the NCAA basketball season and a national sports obsession. Making it to the tournament is the culmination of years of practice, sometimes for hours a day beginning in grade school. It may demand years of participation on travel teams, summer sports camps and youth recreation leagues.
Opinion: Black college athletes have the power to sway the DEI debate Original
Editor’s Note: Derrick Johnson is president and CEO of the NAACP. The views expressed in this commentary are his own. Read more opinion at CNN. College sports fans across America are gathering in arenas and around television sets this week for the start of March Madness, the highpoint of the NCAA basketball season and a national sports obsession. Making it to the tournament is the culmination of years of practice, sometimes for hours a day beginning in grade school.
Opinion | Biden’s delay in banning menthol cigarettes puts more Black lives at risk
The White House’s decision this month to delay the Food and Drug Administration’s rule banning menthol cigarettes puts politics and profit over the health of Black Americans. Make no mistake: By heeding the cynical arguments of the tobacco industry and its well-organized lobbying effort, President Joe Biden’s administration is sending an unacceptable message that Black lives do not matter when it comes to fighting tobacco use, the leading cause of preventable death in our country.
Civil Rights Organizations Demand Congress to Prioritize ACP Funding Before Looming Government Shutdown
We, the undersigned groups, write to emphasize the dire need for Congress to pass 6 billion dollars in supplemental funding to sustain the Affordable Connectivity Program (“ACP”) through the end of 2024. As of October 25, 2023, the Biden-Harris Administration requested Congress to appropriate emergency funding for critical domestic issues, including $6 billion earmarked for ACP to ensure eligible households across the country remain connected online.
The Work That Remains: Federal Government Jobs And Ensuring Real Economic Progress For Black Americans
CLOSE The civil rights and labor movements came together to mark the 60th anniversary of the historic March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom this past weekend, providing an opportunity to both celebrate the progress we have made while also facing the hard truth that much of the work of that march and of our movements remains unfinished.
Letter to Congress: The Debt Ceiling Crisis Must Not Harm Black America
Op-Ed May 18, 2023 I am writing on behalf of the NAACP's membership to make it clear that any resolution to the House-GOP's manufactured debt ceiling crisis must not harm America's Black communities.
NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson Demands Reform on Anniversary of Buffalo NY Shooting
Press Statement May 14, 2023 This Mother's Day, marks the anniversary of the tragic act of domestic terrorism at Tops Friendly Markets in Buffalo, New York. Countless families across the country continue to grieve loved ones they lost at the hands of a hateful society that continues to capitalize on the inaction of so-called leaders. Let me be clear - blood is on the hands of every member of Congress who refuse to deliver common sense gun reform.
Justice for Blacks should be same as for Whites
On the evening of Thursday, April 13, an unarmed Black teen named Ralph Yarl was shot in cold blood by a white homeowner for ringing the wrong doorbell. The crime was clear. The prejudice was obvious. Yet, it took a national outcry for action to force prosecutors to seek justice for a Black person the same way they would a white person.
Republicans’ end run around Black Mississippians is being copied in other states
Headlines last week trumpeted the infuriating news that the state of Texas was planning a takeover of the Houston Independent School District, one of the largest and most diverse school populations in the nation, where 90% of students are Black and brown. State education officials in Austin plan to name a new board to run schools in the district, usurping the authority of local authorities.
Opinion: The despicable new conservative playbook to control the lives of Black and brown Americans Original
Editor’s Note: Derrick Johnson, president and CEO of the NAACP, has been a resident of Jackson, Mississippi, for nearly 30 years. The views expressed in this commentary are his own. Read more opinion at CNN. CNN — Headlines this week trumpeted the infuriating news that the state of Texas was planning a takeover of the Houston Independent School District, one of the largest and most diverse school populations in the nation, where 90% of students are Black and brown.
NAACP Image Awards may be coming to Africa!
IT’S a week to go to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Image Awards.
Two Pulaski County Residents Arrested On Drug Charges And Multiple Warrants
Two Pulaski County Residents Arrested On Drug Charges And Multiple Warrants Local News Tweet Share Reddit +1 Pocket LinkedIn An update from the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office: Sheriff Bobby Jones reports on Wednesday February 15, 2023, two Pulaski County residents were arrested following a traffic stop.Both occupants had outstanding warrants and were arrested on the scene and transported to the Pulaski County Detention Center.) Fleeing or Evading Police, 2nd Degree (Motor Vehicle) No...
15 Million Americans Are About to Lose Their Health Care. Congress Must Act
OPINION AND COMMENTARY A major civil rights crisis is sneaking up on America. Many observers expect the Biden administration to end the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency in April or July 2023. Whenever that happens, Medicaid will begin terminating families' health care for the first time since February 2020. Disaster is likely to strike, as state Medicaid agencies struggle to reevaluate the eligibility of more than 82 million people.
GEORA App is set for its Pre-Launch to take Proximity Marketing to the Next Level
GEORA is a marketing platform that uses beacon technology to send time-sensitive content to a target audience at specific locations. LONG ISLAND CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES, November 21, 2022 / EINPresswire.com/ -- GEORA, a proximity marketing company, has announced its prelaunch and is now open to early subscriptions for free.
The National Teacher Shortage and Unpacking Student Debt Relief
Derrick Johnson serves as President and CEO of the NAACP, a title he has held since October of 2017. President Johnson formerly served as vice chairman of the NAACP National Board of Directors, as well as state president for the Mississippi State Conference NAACP. A longstanding member and leader of the NAACP, Mr. Johnson has helped guide the Association through a period of re-envisioning and reinvigoration.
NAACP CEO: Biden's Plan to Cancel Student Debt Isn't Enough
NAACP CEO: Biden's Plan to Cancel Student Debt Isn't Enough ‚Äč(AP Photo/Richard Vogel) According to CNN reporting, Biden might cancel just $10,000 of student loan debt per borrower for those earning less than $125,000 a year. That would do little to help. Read Full Article »
Opinion: NAACP CEO: Biden's reported plan to cancel student debt isn't enough Original
Derrick Johnson is president and CEO of the NAACP. Wisdom Cole is the NAACP's national director of Youth & College. The opinions expressed in this commentary are their own. With the simple stroke of a pen, President Biden has the unique opportunity to unlock financial freedom for countless Black Americans and low-income communities. But according to CNN reporting, he might cancel just $10,000 of student loan debt per borrower for those earning less than $125,000 a year. That would do little to help.
NAACP Urges Senate Judiciary Committee to Strongly Support Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson
Today, the NAACP sent a letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee, strongly urging support for Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson as Associate Justice on the Supreme Court of the United States. After a review of her civil rights record and rulings, the NAACP noted that "Judge Jackson is an extraordinarily well-qualified candidate with an exceptionally diverse background.
Confirm Ketanji Brown Jackson Watch Party
Mar 21, 2022 10:45am – 12:30pm ET Virtual Join the NAACP at 10:45 AM ET as we mark the historic nomination of Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court. A Black woman nominated for the Supreme Court of the United States is history in the making and long overdue. Let's celebrate, support, and prepare for a more inclusive Court. Since 1789, of the 115 people who have served on the Supreme Court, only three of them have been people of color – and only five have been women.
NAACP President Derrick Johnson And Senate Maj. Leader Chuck Schumer Call For Biden To Put An End To Student Debt
“Real education means to inspire people to live more abundantly, to learn to begin with life as they find it and make it better.” These words come from Carter G. Woodson, known as the ‘Father of Black History.’ The son of former slaves, Dr. Woodson was an historian and educator who was only the second African American to earn a PhD at Harvard.
OP-ED: NAACP Urges Players and Sports Groups to Avoid Texas’ “Dangerous Attacks on Freedoms and Fair Access to Voting”
By Ken Epstein The City of Oakland’s Department of Race & Equity recently issued a report calling for construction unions to abandon their historic, racially exclusive membership policies if they want the city to sign a contract guaranteeing the unions receive the lion’s-share of construction jobs on city-funded projects.
VOICES: NAACP Initiative Battles COVID-19 Misinformation
BALTIMORE — Entertainers ranging from hip-hop artists “Offset” and Nicki Minaj, to noted Black Panther film actress Leticia Wright, R&B singer “Tank,” conservative political pundit Candace Owens and others have made inaccurate, disparaging public comments recently about the safety and effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccines or getting vaccinated, influencing some of their fans and followers to debate the science and guidance.
NAACP president’s statement on Haitian refugee attack
This privacy policy has been compiled to better serve those who are concerned with how their ‘Personally identifiable information’ (PII) is being used online. PII, as used in US privacy law and information security, is information that can be used on its own or with other information to identify, contact, or locate a single person, or to identify an individual in context.
OP-ED: Leading By Example — Biden’s Anti-Bias Executive Order - Voice and Viewpoint
Derrick Johnson is President and CEO of the NAACP and Michele Ruiz is Co-Founder and CEO of BiasSync. Diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (“DEI&A”) initiatives and training make governments, businesses, and organizations stronger. Surveys show that 67% of job seekers consider workplace diversity an important factor when considering employment opportunities. Sixty-one percent of employees believe diversity and inclusion strategies are beneficial and essential.
OP-ED: Leading By Example — Biden’s Anti-Bias Executive Order - Texas Metro News
NNPA NEWSWIRE — Diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (“DEI&A”) initiatives and training make governments, businesses, and organizations stronger. Surveys show that 67% of job seekers consider workplace diversity an important factor when considering employment opportunities. Sixty-one percent of employees believe diversity and inclusion strategies are beneficial and essential.
Leading By Example — Biden’s anti-bias executive order - North Dallas Gazette
By Derrick Johnson and Michele Ruiz Earlier this Summer, President Biden issued a sweeping Executive Order, which advances diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility or “DEI&A” initiatives throughout the federal government. With a stroke of the pen, Biden has positively impacted practically every area of federal employment, including hiring policies, training, leadership development, and employee pay and benefits.
Evangel Set to Host Graceland Saturday to Open Home Football Slate
Posted: Sep 01, 2021 Evangel (1-0) vs. Graceland Yellowjackets (0-1) Date: Sept. 4 | 6:00 p.m. Location: Nixa, Mo. | Eagle Stadium Watch: Heart Network Live Stats: StatBroadcast.com Game Day: Game Notes | Game Program Twitter: @Evangel_FB | @EU_Athletics Fans: Tickets (advance purchase) SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The Evangel football team will open its 2021 home slate Saturday (Sept. 4) with its debut game at Eagle Stadium in Nixa, Mo., against the Graceland Yellowjackets.
Don't Scapegoat Black Texans for State's COVID-19 Surge
By Staff | on August 28, 2021 By Derrick Johnson In the strongest possible terms, the NAACP condemns the incendiary comments made by Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick in an interview with Fox News this past week. Plain and simple, unvaccinated African Americans in Texas are not the cause of the surging cases of COVID-19 plaguing the state, nor is this the case across the country. These are the facts.
Evangel Football Set to Kick Off 2021 Campaign Saturday at Clarke
Posted: Aug 25, 2021 Evangel (0-0) at Clarke Pride (0-0) Date: Aug. 28 | 1:00 p.m. Location: Dubuque, Iowa | Dalzell Field (3,500) Watch: Heart Network Live Stats: ClarkePride.com Game Notes: Evangel | Clarke Twitter: @Evangel_FB | @EU_Athletics SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Evangel (0-0, 0-0) will open its 45th season of varsity football Saturday (Aug. 28), when it meets the Clarke Pride (0-0, 0-0) for a 1 p.m. contest at Dalzell Field in Dubuque, Iowa.
Don’t Scapegoat Black Texans For State’s COVID-19 Surge
NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson By Derrick Johnson In the strongest possible terms, the NAACP condemns the incendiary comments made by Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick in an interview with Fox News this past week. Plain and simple, unvaccinated African Americans in Texas are not the cause of the surging cases of COVID-19 plaguing the state, nor is this the case across the country. These are the facts.
NAACP: Voting rights are not a partisan issue. So why is Congress blocking progress?
Voting rights shouldn't be a partisan issue. Yet the contentious dispute on whether to defend every American’s right to vote has taken center stage in Congress, and for an unnecessary amount of precious time. With time not on our side, there is no reason we should still be debating whether to pass a civil rights bill that will indubitably strengthen our fractured democracy by achieving the one goal our nation’s essence depends on – lending a voice to the people. Rep.
Black Americans in the South bearing brunt of pandemic. Let's do our part to save lives.
Last year, so aptly dubbed the "Nation’s Deadliest Year," we were a nation in crisis. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data, a staggering 3,358,814 American deaths were recorded in 2020. Of those deaths, approximately 375,000 were a result of COVID-19. And as often seen in this country since its founding, Black Americans suffered the most severe consequences. Here’s a sobering fact: 2020 marks one of the deadliest years in recent history for African Americans.
Black Americans in the South bearing brunt of pandemic. Let's do our part to save lives.
Last year, so aptly dubbed the "Nation’s Deadliest Year," we were a nation in crisis. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data, a staggering 3,358,814 American deaths were recorded in 2020. Of those deaths, approximately 375,000 were a result of COVID-19. And as often seen in this country since its founding, Black Americans suffered the most severe consequences. Here’s a sobering fact: 2020 marks one of the deadliest years in recent history for African Americans.
An attack on one is an attack on all
Tuesday night's string of attacks at Atlanta day spas is yet another disgusting and disturbing example of how the spread of domestic terrorism has been allowed to torment minority communities. There have been prominent voices promoting this virulent hate speech before, but the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and parallel rise of misinformation has intensified these attacks.
Close Digital Divide wUniversal Internet Access
Derrick Johnson & Geoffrey Starks CNN March 9, 2021 People of color and low-income communities have been disproportionately harmed by both the Covid-19 virus and the economic recession. It will be hard to ultimately "Build Back Better" unless we first address the racial and economic impact of the digital divide. Read Full Article »
Opinion: We have to close the digital divide. That means internet access for everyone
© Patrick T. Fallon/AFP/Getty Images A child attends an online class at a learning hub inside the Crenshaw Family YMCA during the Covid-19 pandemic on February 17, 2021 in Los Angeles, California.
Opinion | The Biden administration must go into overdrive to reclaim our courts
Derrick Johnson is president and chief executive of the NAACP. Leslie Proll is its senior adviser for judicial nominations. Four years of court-packing by President Donald Trump and then-Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell(R-Ky.) filled our federal judiciary with extremist judges opposed to civil rights. Fortunately, President Biden can begin reforming the courts immediately.
Soon-to-be Secretary Cardona, the time is now for an education stimulus Original
John H. Jackson and Derrick Johnson Secretary Cardona, congratulations on your nomination. You are poised to enter the position of Secretary of Education at a critical point in American history. As you know well, for generations we have lived through a system of separate and unequal education. COVID-19 has greatly exacerbated the learning loss disparities experienced by children of color.
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