Afro Sheen

How I Revolutionized an Industry with the Golden Rule, from Soul Train to Wall Street

Autobiography

by

George E Johnson

2025

2025

An autobiography by George E. Johnson, founder of Johnson Products Company (JPC). Johnson tells his life story, from dropping out of high school to building the first Black-owned company listed on the American Stock Exchange. He details the challenges of growing a business with limited access to capital, how he persevered, and the lessons he learned along the way. Johnson also emphasizes the importance of marketing, including how his understanding of its power led him to embrace television early and back Soul Train, in which he held a 50% stake. He is also candid about the downsides of his success, describing how poor personal decisions contributed to his divorce, strained relationships with his children, and ultimately the sale of JPC.

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Jermaine's Notes

August 2026

Great story. Harsh reminder of how segregated the world was a few decades ago. The haircare industry is bigger and more entrepreneurial than I realized. Read 2025 hardcover.

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