“If you see a good fight, get in it.”
“You should be ashamed to die until you’ve made some contribution to mankind.”
Dr. Vernon Johns
A young Dr. Martin Luther King searched for a full-time position in 1954. On January 24th, Dr. King gave a trial sermon at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church. It could lead to his break as a full-time pastor at this historic church. He had heard that the church administrators were unhappy with the current pastor who was a “militant guy, who had exhorted the congregation like a ‘whirlwind’ to get involved in social issues.”
Dr. King impressed the congregation and they offered him the position. The church thought that Dr. King was young, impressionable, and they could mold him. Little did they know that their “exhortations” to be involved with social issues were just beginning.
Dr. King was living in Boston and had to consider whether he wanted to move south where there was segregation, social strife, and rampant discrimination (often with violence). Dr. King decided to take the position, later writing in his book that “we had a feeling that something remarkable was unfolding in the South, and we wanted to be on hand to witness it.” In other words, he saw a good fight worth getting into.
The story of Dr. Martin Luther King has been in detail from a variety of angles, motivations, and lessons to be learned. But, we rarely see information about his mentors. This is the story of a relatively unknown early mentor and trailblazer of Dr. King and other civil rights luminaries at the time, Dr. Vernon Johns.
“If you see a good fight, get in it.” That simple quote exemplifies the personality and perspective of Dr. Vernon Napoleon Johns. The phrase is powerful, simple, elegant, and very direct. Dr. Vernon Johns was a character that had quite an impact on his times, but was not always recognized for the trailblazer role he held.
Well-known for breathtakingly packed sermons including religious text, poetical references, and even ancient philosophical tidbits, it’s that simple perspective on life (passed to him by his father) that had a lasting impact and directed much of his life. It also has influenced many others (including this author).
Reverend Vernon Johns was born on April 22nd, 1892 in the state of Virginia. He was born to a Baptist preacher and farmer, so he was exposed to two of his life-long endeavors at an early age. He also had a bit of an unorthodox family. Three of his grandparents were slaves, and both grandfathers seemed to have rather rebellious streaks: one was hanged for killing his master, and the other who was Caucasian, was tried numerous times and went to jail for killing someone in defense of Dr. Johns’ African-American grandmother. Rev. Johns came from agricultural roots and farming was a theme throughout his life (both as a means of survival and as part of later activist efforts).
From an incredibly young age (as early as 3), he showed an interest and talent for preaching, supposedly preaching on door steps and stumps (as told by family members). His early childhood was also one of being self-taught—he was often seeing plowing and reading at the same time. He was said to have a photographic memory and would recite long biblical passages, and was knowledgeable in Greek, Latin, Hebrew, and German. Dr. Johns attended the Boydton Institute (Presbyterian mission school), and then later enrolled in the Virginia Union University.
After a year, he transferred to the Virginia Theological Seminary and College, which would have a profound impact on his life. The Seminary emphasized liberal arts as well as focusing on African-American autonomy (both themes that he kept throughout his career). As the rebellious streak once again reared itself, Dr. John’s was expelled before graduating, but was admitted to Oberlin College as well as becoming a student pastor. At Oberlin, he was a scholastic class leader, overtaking the famed Robert M. Hutchins (who eventually became president of the University of Chicago).
According to one story, Hutchins accused the “country Negro” of cheating because it would not be possible for Dr. Johns to make grades as high as he did. Dr. Johns punched him in the mouth, but the two eventually made up and became long-time friends over the years. Dr. Johns eventually received his B.D. from Oberlin, and was ordained as a Baptist minister.
He also studied for a summer at the University of Chicago, further rounding out his education (especially since that time coincided with the Chicago riots in 1919). After graduation, he began teaching at the Virginia Theological Seminary, while also becoming pastor of the historic Court Street Baptist Church. In what became a theme throughout his life, he denounced the Seminary’s administration for offering public relations cover instead of true nurturing, which led to his departure from the faculty in 1923. He continued to bounce around various congregations and posts throughout his career, spending time at his family farm in between spells of employment. In 1927, he married Altona Trent, a pianist and music teacher, who eventually became a professor at Alabama State University.
Due to his wife’s connection at the Alabama State University, he was able to become pastor of the powerful Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in 1948. Johns was the “militant” preacher that ruffled feathers at the congregation, but also eased the path for Dr. King to follow:
- He once paid bus fare but refused to sit at the back of the bus, demanding a refund (and successfully received it!). This was before Rosa Parks famous defiance which ignited the Montgomery bus boycott in the area years later.
- He would order food at an all-white restaurant at a time when counters were segregated and years before the famous Woolworth sit-ins.
- Ever the farmer, Dr. Johns would sell his produce outside of the church, which offended the sensibilities of the middle-class congregation. He would also preach immediately after plowing, standing in dirty overalls (while the congregation was in its “Sunday best”).
- Dr. Johns’ niece (Barbara Johns) led a student strike in Prince Edward County Virginia, which led to one of the five cases included in the seminal Brown vs. Topeka Board of Education. She noted the influence of her uncle. The Johns family certainly seemed to have a rebellious streak and ability to get ahead of a movement (or spur it on).
- He also would give firebrand sermons and speeches touching on hot topic news items of the day, often encouraging activism in areas such as police brutality against members of the community or rape against women in the community (who had been traditionally reluctant to bring charges against assailants).
- Dr. Johns had an opportunity to offer advice to his successor—Dr. Martin Luther King (who the Church administration chose because they thought he was young and more controllable, ironically). A former roommate of Dr. King’s at Boston University and long-time friend noted that Dr. King was fascinated with Dr. Vernon Johns and saw him as a “theological genius.” In fact, at the height of the Civil Rights movement in the early 1960s, Dr. King reached out for help and asked for Dr. Johns sermon notebooks. His firebrand messaging finally found the right time (but, alas, Dr. Johns would not sure them because they were a part of his livelihood).
The widow of Dr. Martin Luther King wrote that “My husband and Ralph Abernathy could sit for hours swapping stories about this outspoken minister who always gave his middle-class congregation a very hard time. According to Martin, Dr. Johns’ main purpose was to rock the complacency of the refined members of the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church—in whatever way he could.” The eccentricities and rebelliousness was eventually too much for the Church leaders to take. After several previous attempts to resign by Dr. Johns, the administrators finally accepted his resignation in 1953. He would never be a full-time pastor at another Church, although he did continue on the guest preacher circuit and mentored several prominent figures (e.g., Dr. King, Ralph Abernathy). Dr. Johns died of a heart attack on April 11th, 1965 at the age of 73.
Life lessons learned
There were several themes throughout Dr. Johns’ life that we can all appreciate and learn from:
- Timing is everything. Dr. Johns was often right but too early (e.g., activism in the face of brutality/crime, desegregation of buses and food counters, education equality, more assertive messaging, etc.). This led to constant battles with the establishment and often a lack of receptivity by his audience. But, his trailblazing ways did help clear the paths for his successors. Regardless, for personal success, it is important to align strategy with timing.
- Persistence. Dr. Johns was persistent, regardless of the resistance, doubt, and detractors he faced. They were not ready to see what he saw, but he did not let that sway his message.
- Sacrifice. One often has to sacrifice comfort to succeed. It’s not necessary, but there is a level of devotion to one’s cause that often means pushing aside leisure activities, creature comforts, even time with loved ones. Dr. Johns could have “played it safe” at the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church and had a nice long career telling the congregation what they wanted to hear. He did not, and we’re all better off as a result.
- Tactics matter as much as strategy. Dr. King used many of the same strategies that Dr. Johns pioneered. But, in addition to the timing being better (possibly as a result of Dr. Johns laying the groundwork), he also used more appropriate tactics—he was gentler, smoother, and more coaxing in getting the community behind the cause. We often see this distinction in companies as they grow. The brash inventor/founder is right for the start, but the seasoned and smooth CEO is necessary to scale the business (and work with larger groups of stakeholders).
- Independent streak. Some called Dr. Johns rebellious, but he just had conviction to do what he felt was right regardless of the consequences. This is often necessary to bring about change for the better. It’s a lonely road, but can yield better outcomes in the long run.
Sources:
http://www.ralphluker.com/vjohns/baptist.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vernon_Johns
http://www2.oberlin.edu/external/EOG/BlackHistoryMonth/Vernon%20Johns/JohnsBioSketch.html
http://www.vernonjohns.org/tcal001/vjmontlt.html
https://historynewsnetwork.org/article/171536
