Last week, the Rev. Francys Johnson took a big step toward a bright future on a national scale when he assumed the position of national regional director for the NAACP’s Southeast region.
After all, Johnson, the pastor of Mount Moriah Baptist Church in Pembroke, is following in the footsteps of such civil rights giants as Medger Evers, Earl Shinhoster and Ruby Hurley. What’s more, the 27-year-old Johnson has a positive, forward-thinking approach to what he hopes to achieve. The NAACP, he told the Byran County News, has to come up with answers to what he called the true questions of our time, such as better educational and economic opportunity for those in rural areas. We couldn’t agree more.
While parts of Bryan County have gained the reputation as a comfortable bedroom community for those who work in surrounding counties, it’s also clear there are pockets of poverty and hopelessness here as well.
We expect Johnson to act as an advocate for those from those areas who need help. But we also believe he will be a fine spokesman and representative for all of us in Bryan County, regardless of our race.
Johnson, who plans to remain as pastor of Mount Moriah, also clearly hopes to transcend color in his role with the NAACP, noting he won’t engage in race-baiting. And he brings plenty of eloquence to the table when talking about the type of leader he hopes to be.
“I want to be a consensus builder,” he said. “I want to be a statesman of the sort we had when the NAACP was founded by white and black Americans who felt that America can do better.”
Our hope is Johnson realizes his goal. We have every reason to believe he will.
The Bryan County News
Feb. 8, 2007
After all, Johnson, the pastor of Mount Moriah Baptist Church in Pembroke, is following in the footsteps of such civil rights giants as Medger Evers, Earl Shinhoster and Ruby Hurley. What’s more, the 27-year-old Johnson has a positive, forward-thinking approach to what he hopes to achieve. The NAACP, he told the Byran County News, has to come up with answers to what he called the true questions of our time, such as better educational and economic opportunity for those in rural areas. We couldn’t agree more.
While parts of Bryan County have gained the reputation as a comfortable bedroom community for those who work in surrounding counties, it’s also clear there are pockets of poverty and hopelessness here as well.
We expect Johnson to act as an advocate for those from those areas who need help. But we also believe he will be a fine spokesman and representative for all of us in Bryan County, regardless of our race.
Johnson, who plans to remain as pastor of Mount Moriah, also clearly hopes to transcend color in his role with the NAACP, noting he won’t engage in race-baiting. And he brings plenty of eloquence to the table when talking about the type of leader he hopes to be.
“I want to be a consensus builder,” he said. “I want to be a statesman of the sort we had when the NAACP was founded by white and black Americans who felt that America can do better.”
Our hope is Johnson realizes his goal. We have every reason to believe he will.
The Bryan County News
Feb. 8, 2007