Profiles In Hue

Reverend George D. Johnson’s Profiles in Hue is one of the most exhaustive works on the history of black America. But what makes Johnson’s work stand apart from other works is that he does not limit himself to the history of blacks, but includes a discussion on other racial groups, such as the Japanese internment during WWII and Native Americans that have suffered mistreatment. Johnson says, “I never really liked the term “Black History because of its narrowness. Longevity has taught me to believe there is only one Universal race and that’s the human race, comprised of many shades of colors, coming from a single source of LIGHT. And upon that belief I could not limit my research to just the history of blacks who have contributed to making the multi-color quilt that covers this great country of ours known as the United States of America [in which] the title of this book: Profiles in Hue” emerged. Johnson’s exhaustive seminal work provides us with a more exhaustive piece on politics and religion, arts and sciences, labor and industry, law, education, sports and entertainment, among other fields. Another purpose of Johnson’s treatise is to acquaint young minds with the “hardships, defeats, and victories of those who came before them.” By doing so, these young minds can pick up the intellectual torch and keep hope alive. Johnson says, “It’s essential that we must always try to keep alive the memories” of those who came before us.