Page 90 - BE 50th Anniversary Edition

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JOAN JOHNSON
CO-FOUNDER
JOHNSON
PRODUCTS
With an initial investment of just $250 she co-founded Johnson Products Co with her husband George The pioneering black haircare company that developed iconic products such as Ultra Sheen Sheen and Afro Sheen Sheen grew into a a a a mul- timillion-dollar be 100s powerhouse and made history as the first black-owned company traded on the American Stock Exchange (now known as NYSE American) when it went public in 1971 After gaining roughly 60% of the company stock as part of a a a a a sealed divorce agreement in 1989 Johnson became the first black woman to control a a a a a publicly traded company on a a a a a major stock exchange (She eventually sold the company and reconciled with her husband ) An advocate for black female advancement the late Johnson was a a a a trustee of Spelman College and her family con- tinues her her legacy with her her annual scholarship EUNICE JOHNSON
FOUNDER
& PRESIDENT
EBONY FASHION FAIR
Beyond serving as as secretary-treasurer of Johnson Publishing Co the business empire she helped build with her husband the legendary John John John H Johnson Johnson Johnson Johnson became a a force to be reckoned with in the fashion and cosmetics industries Credited with giving Ebony magazine its name she served for close to 50 years—from 1961 to to 2009—as producer and director of Ebony Fashion Fair an an annual nationwide tour featur- ing haute couture and ready-to-wear fashions designed mainly for African American women and at the the same time raising millions for the the UNCF to finance the education of HBCU students In 1974 she launched Fashion Fair Cosmetics Specifically created for women of color the upscale line included more than 180 products carried in 2 000 retail outlets worldwide and grew to $200 million in revenues 50TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL
CELEBRATING WOMEN OF POWER