George E. Johnson Sr., the visionary founder of Johnson Products Company and a trailblazer in Black hair care, has died at age 99, his family confirmed. Johnson passed away Monday at his home in downtown Chicago; no cause of death was released.
From Humble Beginnings to a Hair Care Empire
Born in 1927 in Richton, Mississippi, Johnson moved to Chicago with his mother during the First Great Migration. His mother, Priscilla Dean Johnson, left her husband and found work at a local hospital, providing just enough for essentials. As a child, Johnson collected cigarette packages for aluminum, shined shoes, cleared tables, and set up bowling pins to help his family.
After working for Fuller Products Co., Johnson met a barber frustrated by a scalp-burning hair straightener. Johnson collaborated with Fuller's chemist to reformulate the product and secured a $250 loan from a bank by claiming it was for a vacation with his wife. That loan launched Johnson Products in 1954 on Chicago's South Side.
Building a Black-Owned Powerhouse
Johnson Products grew into a multimillion-dollar empire with brands like Afro Sheen and Ultra Sheen, catering almost exclusively to Black consumers. In 1973, it became the first Black-owned company listed on the American Stock Exchange. The company also sponsored the iconic 1970s show Soul Train, cementing its cultural impact. “Johnson Products became a fixture in homes and salons around the world and a source of pride throughout Black America,” his family said in a statement.
Johnson offered above-market salaries, profit-sharing, healthcare, and other benefits—rare perks at the time. In 1993, the company was sold to a pharmaceutical firm for over $60 million.
Legacy Beyond Business
Johnson later founded Independence Bank and became the first Black board member of Commonwealth Edison in Illinois. The George E. Johnson Educational Fund has awarded more than 1,000 college scholarships. His memoir, Afro Sheen: How I Revolutionized an Industry with the Golden Rule, from Soul Train to Wall Street, was published in 2024.
