Visions of Black Life: Honoring the Johnson Publishing Company (Event Series)
The Art Department features Herbert Temple, Art Director who designed JPC logos. Johnson Publishing Company Archive. Courtesy J. Paul Getty Trust and Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
About
Getty is partnering with institutions across the United States and Puerto Rico to present a series of public programs that amplify the legacy of the Johnson Publishing Company (JPC) and its vital contributions to Black life, culture, and media. Timed to coincide with Juneteenth, these events—including talks, panel discussions, workshops, and community-centered gatherings—invite intergenerational audiences to engage with the JPC archive’s rich historical record. Collectively, the programs celebrate the archive’s enduring significance and reflect a shared commitment to expanding public understanding of its impact on American history and identity.
Participating Institutions
- Black Heritage Society of Washington State, Seattle WA
- Black PR Collaborative Inc., San Juan PR
- California African American Museum, Los Angeles CA
- Fisk University Galleries, Nashville TN
- South Side Community Art Center, Chicago IL
- Temple University Libraries, Philadelphia, PA
- The Wright, Detroit MI
Upcoming Events
June 17, 2025, 3pm ET
Philadelphia, PA
Juneteenth at the Blockson Collection
The Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection at Temple University Libraries presents an artist talk with Hank Willis Thomas on reimagining the JPC archive.
June 17, 2025, 6pm CT
Nashville, TN
Inference of Memory: The Johnson Publishing Company Archive--A Conversation with Jamal Cyrus
Fisk University presents a conversation with Jamal Cyrus.
June 19, 2025, 12pm CT
Chicago, IL
Every Day is Juneteenth
South Side Community Art Center presents an event on Black joy, memory, and the JPC's legacy.
June 21, 2025, 12pm AT
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Then & Now: How Jazz Music + Hair Bridge the Diaspora
Brought to you by Black PR Collaborative Inc., “Then & Now” will explore how jazz music and hair have been sometime "tools of protest" that build community among the diaspora that include African Americans, Boricuas, Afro Boricuas, and all who celebrate the melding of these cultures. Featuring NEGRITA documentary director Magdalena Albizu and renowned creator of Puerto Rican Jazz Dr. William Cepeda, come watch, learn, and enjoy.
June 29, 2025
Seattle, WA
Inspired by Eunice Walker Johnson
The Black Heritage Society will celebrate the significance of the Johnson Publishing Company to uplift Black lives, culture, and media. More information forthcoming.