Judge Joe Johnson Speaks to PLHS Students
By Kaberline, Carolyn
When people don’t interact with others of different races and cultures, it’s easy for them to hang on to stereotypes, said Joseph Johnson, Shawnee County District Court judge, as he spoke to an all-school assembly at Perry-Lecompton High School in honor of Black History Month. He also stressed the importance of education, not just to remove stereotypes but to find a place in the world.
Johnson, the first African-American to be appointed a judge in Shawnee County as well as the first black public defender in the state of Kansas, knows all about stereotypes. Although he noted that the Brown vs. the Topeka Board of Education came about in 1951, the effects of segregation were still in place when he went to school.
Johnson not only told of some of the stereotypes he faced during his school years, but also highlighted the progress made by African-Americans in the legal system, noting that up until 1951 “blacks were not allowed to serve on juries in 31 states. In addition, there were no blacks on the bench.”
Throughout his presentation, Johnson stressed the value of education in removing stereotypes and encouraged students to get the most out of their time in school as they possibly could. Pointing out that every year four million kids start ninth grade, he noted that 25 per cent drop out and do not graduate. He admonished those in the audience not to be part of that 25 per cent: “Don’t waste your time in school. You’re here for a reason. There are few places you can go without an education.”
