He began using a Courier article written during the 1950s about eight Black lawyers who were the first Blacks to be admitted to the Allegheny County Bar Association. After reading the article, he stated that these were the men who opened the doors for Blacks in the legal professions and that they were the men who were the true legends. But I say as great as these eight men were, the Johnson brothers have as much to do with opening the doors in the criminal and civil justice system as these eight. If they had not accomplished what they did, those doors would have been slammed right back shut. Believe me a whole lot of White lawyers, judges, and people as a whole were hoping they failed so they could slam the doors shut behind them. But the Johnson brothers didn’t allow that to happen, they followed in the eight men’s footsteps making their footprint even larger than the men who preceded them.
Livingstone really amazed me in his ability to recognize everybody, and not having the big head. He talked to everyone who would listen. And we all should have been listening.
It’s my regret that only around 300 people were able to witness it. There should be some way that our young people can see, and hear what was done to open the doors, and keep them open, for them–and what is going to happen if they don’t start putting forth more effort to keep those doors open in all fields.
It’s so amazing when you realize what they had to go through in comparison to what young people today face. I laugh when people talk about all the obstacles young people have to face today, and how hard it is for them. Yes, they are right, but it’s nothing like the challenges our forefathers had to overcome.
Something else that impressed me was that not only did their father and mother stay married for years, but also both of them have been married for 50 plus years and are extremely proud of their adult children and grandchildren.
I just want to say thank you to the two Johnson brothers for being who you are. For facing all the challenges you faced and not backing down, not giving up, not dropping out. But still staying grounded and down to earth, mostly because of the guidance you got from your parents.
Thanks Justin. Thanks, Livingstone. Oh, and thanks, Florence Elizabeth, and LeeBrun Johnson, their wives of 50 plus years.
(Ulish Carter is the managing editor of the New Pittsburgh Courier.)
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