January 19, 1918 | John H. Johnson
John H. Johnson, the publisher of Ebony and Jet magazines which many African Americans flipped through in their living rooms with cultural pride was born on January 19, 1918 in Arkansas City, Arkansas. Johnson, the grandson of slaves reached the height of American success in his business and publishing achievements. He became the first African American to make Forbes Magazine list of the 400 wealthiest Americans. President Clinton presented him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1996. Johnson died on August 8, 2005 in Chicago, Illinois at age 87.