Changing The Narrative: JOHNSON Embracing a Lifetime of Brotherhood
In 2001 Angie Stone’s hit single ‘Brotha’ was one of the first love songs written appreciating Black men in their totality. Her soulful voice sung words of affirmation that acted as a salve for the too-often broken spirit in American born Black men. Angie’s ode to the beauty of Black men held the space, until it was possible for them to create art to articulating their appreciation for themselves. In 2021, the Bounce network took a chance on a young writer and producer named Deji LaRay. Deji’s project ‘Johnson’, offered an authentic snapshot into the challenges, triumphs and obstacles of today’s world through the eyes of four distinctly diverse Black men. Written and produced by Black men, and starring Black men, ‘Johnson’ offers balance to a television landscape that far too often allows other races, genders and cultures to give their interpretation of the hearts and souls of brothas.
‘Brotha’ was released after the 90s R&B and Hip-Hop surge when images of Black people on television, movies and even across the radio waves were becoming much more prevalent. Television shows like ‘Living Single’ and ‘Girlfriends’ gave context to the relationships between Black women through a feminine lens. With Black men as a circumstantial piece of their storyline, comparable to location and extended family, these shows gave Black women a long overdue snapshot of their diverse beauty and unique experience. The 90’s jumpstarted a movement that would allow young Black women to see themselves as capable and conscientious leaders. Adversely, programs such as ‘NY Undercover’ and ‘NYPD Blue’ featured Black men as cops burdened with the task of apprehending their peers for the sake of saving their community, or as the hypermasculine gangbanger void of emotion or compassion. Writer and creator Deji LaRay was a young actor fortunate enough to visit the set of New York Undercover as an extra. “It was an experience I’ll never forget. As an ode to NY Undercover, we adopted the LIVE performances with up and coming artists in each episode,” he shares. Experiences like the one with the Fox hit series inspired Deji to write. He penned the pilot for ‘Johnson’ in 2014, seven years before he’d see his creation come to life with Thomas Q. Jones, Derrex Brady and Philip AJ Smithey.
TOO MANY TIMES WE’RE TAUGHT TO FOCUS ON THE SUPERFICIAL THINGS, THE THINGS THAT DON’T REALLY MATTER. HAVING BROTHERS THAT LOVE AND SUPPORT YOU IS INVALUABLE – THOMAS
Deji was one of the lucky ones, but due to the lack of representation, it’s not surprising many Black men have not experienced the same surge in accomplishments and public achievements as their counterparts. ‘Johnson’ humanizes the daily lives of four Black painfully ‘normal’ men that don’t live up to the popular stereotypes assigned to Black men by others and often accepted by themselves. Main characters, Greg, Omar, Jarvis and Keith form an unbreakable bond in elementary school, connected inevitably by their very common last name, ‘Johnson’.
Deji plays Greg Johnson, an intellectual free spirit that refuses to assimilate to the confines of what is socially acceptable. It’s clear Greg could’ve achieved the college-bred corporate financially stable “good job” our grandparents instructed us to secure. But his obstinate rebellion against the structure that does everything but embrace Black men, relegates him to driving Uber and picking up odd jobs to pay his minimal bills. The late bloomer of his friend group, Greg’s struggle with finding his place in life is mirrored by his turbulent relationships with the opposite sex.
The role of Omar Johnson was given to former pro football player Thomas Q. Jones. While Thomas’ previous television and movie roles have relied on his tattooed muscular physique and sexy albeit foreboding presence, the role of Omar allows viewers see past his exterior to the complex man within. Like Thomas, Omar is a target for women’s lust-filled fantasies, but we see that superficial attraction show up as a distraction from the man Omar is struggling to become. His physicality factors into the way he is perceived by others as he follows his dream of owning a technology company and of course the ramifications of that presence when it comes to his relationships with women, specifically his estranged wife. As writer of the series, Deji subtly confronts the myth of the virile, oversexed Mandingo stereotype through Omar, offering viewers and even perhaps men that share the same physical reality an opportunity to see themselves beyond being a sex symbol, or a sturdy back for sport matches and manual labor.
Derrex Brady takes on the role of Jarvis, a suave pretty-boy corporate real estate agent that has managed to achieve what many would consider the “good life”. Jarvis’ with his GQ ‘man of the year style’, foreign cars and million dollar mansion, appears to be the poster boy for ‘achieving the American Dream while black’. Jarvis has the least amount of patience with his friend’s shortcomings, because he has imposed a very narrow way of being upon himself. Behind his perfect smile, perfect waves and designer labels, it’s clear that Jarvis, like many other Blacks in his position, has sacrificed much of his own identity in order to slip through the cracks of white supremacy. Jarvis’ sacrifices extend much further than his choice to marry outside his race and instead have challenged the connection with his culture and sense of self.
Last but not least, the role of Keith is played by Philip AJ Smithey. Keith is an artistic and somewhat naive ingenue that believes there is more good in the world than bad. Keith’s selflessness acts as a moral compass for his friends, although he doesn’t try to force his beliefs on them. Raised and sheltered by a single Black mother, Keith reminds audiences that authenticity is the most valued additive for friendship. His sensitivity causes him to be offended more than his counterparts but also makes him an amazing photographer and artist. That trait also provides him with the ability to enjoy relationships that aren’t motivated by agendas and ulterior motives. Ironically, Keith who is often over-shadowed by Jarvis’ flashiness, Omar’s sex appeal and Greg’s swag becomes the most attractive of the friends, due to his pure heart. Keith’s character being included as a primary force in the Johnson foursome is the biggest sign of progression for Johnson as it co-signs the idea that there is no status quo of a what makes a Black man cool, likable or “real”. Keith embodies all these adjectives and yet this character would not have been a principal character for a young Black man twenty years ago.
‘Johnson’ got off to a quiet start but immediately received praise based on the stellar writing and production. Co-signed by comedic legends DL Hughley and Cedric the Entertainer, the show continued exponentially gaining loyal viewers and increasing in popularity. Johnson’s storylines have touched on everything from internal betrayal to the racially charged landscape of 2020, paternity shenanigans with groupies, to unaddressed pedophilia and even the city of Atlanta’s water boys controversy. The true-to-life dialogue, emotionally driven relationships and realistic vantage point into the mind of a Black man in 2024, has earned the series an exponentially growing grassroots fanbase and four consecutive seasons, at a time when most new shows don’t last past a sophomore season. The underlying theme of the show is the unbreakable bond between the principal characters. Deji’s ability to write diverse characters that serve a dual purpose of challenging negative stereotypes and redefining what it means to be a Black man in 2024 seems almost prophetic because of today’s absence of Black male voices. Deji, Thomas, Derrex and Philip all can attest personally to the disconnect they’ve felt as Black men living in a country that appears to overtime to misunderstand and villainize them because of the color of their skin. “The role of Jarvis has helped me to give grace to myself (Derrex),” Derrex admits. “Deji is such an amazing writer, he pulls things out of us that have helped mature and heal us as men.”
With pop culture headlines filled with gratification of the fall of influential Black entertainers such as Bill Cosby, R Kelly and Sean ‘P Diddy’ Combs, it’s important that Black creatives like Deji, Thomas, Derrex and Philip continue representing the Black man’s experience. Role models based in authenticity that are committed to providing and supporting their families and one another, are necessary to add balance for the sake of stronger and healthier communities.
For Thomas growing up in Virgina, there were no Black male role models outside of athletes, drug dealers and or rappers. Fortunately, he was among the talented 10th that made it to be a professional football star. As an executive producer for ‘Johnson’, Thomas is grateful for the opportunity to embrace a second chapter that allows him to inspire and uplift other Black men while healing the young boy who achieved worldly success, but still needed to mature and heal himself. “Too many times we’re taught to focus on the superficial things, the things that don’t really matter. Having brothers that love and support you is invaluable. I’m grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this show and I can’t wait to share more of ‘Johnson’ with fans. People are invested in the growth of these characters, and that shows us that the work we are putting in matters,” he says.
Credits:
Bounce
One/35 Agency
Photography: @iamseancason
Tech/ Lighting: @donny_tu
Stylist for the cover: Joni Marie Ross
Grip: @trent
Gaffer: @4gmgrey
Set manager: @jamesalanbelk
Project manager: @chloescook
Lighting: @terminus_atl
Studio: @seancasonstudios