The First Black Billionaire

Speaking of people who have had an impact on black history you usually hear about inventors, athletes, or celebrities. Of all those people one businessman in modern day black history was instrumental in establishing a tool for the accomplishment of blacks in America. Robert Johnson did that with the creation of BET (Black Entertainment Television). BET is a media hub for the entertainment many blacks and African-Americans in the US and worldwide.

Born in Hickory, Mississippi in 1946, Johnson was raised in Freeport, Illinois. He was the ninth of ten children of parents Archie and Edna Johnson. He is educated with a bachelors degree in History from University of Illinois and a Masters degree in International Affairs from Princeton University. He has two kids with wife Sheila Crump.

His Vision
Since his days at college Johnsons vision was that the influence of television media could promote black commerce and culture. In 1978 he began developing his plan to create programming for black viewers. He worked as a lobbyist for the National Cable Television Association. Later with an investment of $15,000 together with contributions from friends and business associates he founded BET which aired its first program on January 8, 1980. Since its inception BET has grown from a fledgling business to a media giant. To date, BET still carries the largest African-American oriented content in cable TV.
How did he make $1billion
BET became the first African-American company to be publicly traded on the NYSE. When Johnson reacquired it in 1998 he sold it to Viacom pocketing $1.5 billion. He has since continued to expand and diversify BET as a business. In 2003 he also became the owner of a new NBA (National Basketball Association) sports franchise.

Impact of BET on Blacks

The founding and continued expansion of BET has enabled employment opportunities for hundreds of African Americans. Johnsons company has also provided an ever evolving entertainment and media model for blacks in the US and worldwide. BET, as a niche broadcast channel for African Americans, has been instrumental in forming the image of the positive role model through airings of various African-American oriented films. Numerous black and African-American artists, celebrities, and athletes have taken advantage of the media portal to rise to success. Through the role of BET as a media portal, the achievements of black history continue to be reinforced.

As a businessman Robert Johnson has won numerous awards including the NAACP Image Award (1982), the Trumpet Award from Turner Broadcasting (1993), Presidents Award from the National Cable Television Association (1982), Pioneering Award, Capital Press Club (1984), Broadcasting and Cable Hall of Fame Award (1997), and the 20/20 Vision Award from Cablevision magazine. Throughout the years, Robert Johnson and his Sheila have generously given to nonprofit organizations including Howard University and the United Negro College Fund.
The media portal has also expanded African American culture through fashion and music. More importantly, it sustains and improves on its promotion of business and education to its audience.

There are many achievers in black history who have paved the way for blacks and African-Americans in the United States and worldwide. Robert Johnsons creation in the founding of BET however remains unique because of its 24-7 presence as a resource for the empowerment of its audience.

Sources:

- Wikipedia.com
- Biography.com

Learn more about this author, Kenneth O'Mally.
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