George E. Johnson, the beauty mogul behind Afro Sheen, died Monday at his Chicago home. His passing was confirmed by his second wife, Madeline Murphy Rabb, according to The New York Times. Johnson was 99.
His cause of death was respiratory illness. Several serious respiratory illnesses, including asthma, emphysema, pneumonia, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, disproportionately impact black men. They are also statistically underdiagnosed and have worse outcomes once they are diagnosed.
His Early Years
He moved to Chicago with his mother from his birthplace in Mississippi during the Great Migration, a period when Black families fled the American South in search of promised opportunity in the North and Midwest.
Johnson worked briefly in food service and recreation before making his way to beauty. He built the Johnson Products Company empire with his first wife and co-founder, Joan Johnson. He brought innovation and creativity to the space, developing multiple products for textured hair, including the iconic Ultra Wave.
Johnson’s Impact on the Black Beauty Industry
His climb to the top of the beauty industry inspired many to follow in his footsteps. He chronicled his journey in his 2025 memoir Afro Sheen: How I Revolutionized an Industry with the Golden Rule, from Soul Train to Wall Street. It was co-written with Hilary Beard.
Black-owned beauty brands now fill shelves across the nation, but Johnson was a true visionary, paving the way for SheaMoisture, Mielle Organics, and others. There would be no events like CurlFest or CurlyCon without his firm’s success, demonstrating the return on investment that could be extracted from celebrating natural hair.
He Showcased Black Beauty
Johnson’s achievements in the beauty industry helped shape some of the most important moments in Black media.
His company sponsored the original Soul Train, showcasing Black beauty in households across the country. Their lasting support did more than help them build a company; it shaped the visual identity of a community. Vintage Afrosheen commercials painting Black women draped in jeweled tones as “majestic” and “radiant” rack up hundreds of thousands of views on YouTube today.
His Influence Went Beyond Beauty
Johnson’s company was the first Black company to be publicly traded on a major American stock exchange.
His struggles financing the venture inspired him to co-found the Independence Bank of Chicago. Black entrepreneurs continue to struggle to secure the capital needed to execute their visions. Black-owned banks help provide solutions for entrepreneurs who are systemically excluded from traditional business-building methods. His transparency after achieving success showed that talented, tenacious people are not being given the chance to succeed.
His Legacy Looms Large
Johnson was a beloved father and grandfather. He is survived by four children, ten grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. The family issued a statement on his passing that celebrated his life and legacy.
“It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of our beloved father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, George E. Johnson Sr. George passed away peacefully at home at the age of 99, leaving behind an extraordinary legacy of entrepreneurship, faith, perseverance, philanthropy, and family,” the statement read. “George was a visionary business leader who built a haircare empire, broke barriers on Wall Street, and helped fuel the fight for civil rights. Above all, he was a devoted family man whose example inspired generations and whose legacy of entrepreneurship, community leadership, and philanthropy continues through his descendants today.”
Johnson fought for civil rights and supported educational causes by providing scholarships. He also promoted access to capital for underserved communities. The family noted the impact of the example Johnson set through persistence and hard work.
“George’s life was a testament to what determination and vision can build. Born in 1927 in Richton, Mississippi, he came to Chicago as a child and began working at a young age, shining shoes, bussing tables, and setting pins in a bowling alley, to help his mother make ends meet,” the family’s statement continued. “Those early experiences shaped the values that guided him throughout his life: humility, determination, personal responsibility, and the golden rule: treating everyone the way he wished to be treated, with dignity and respect.”
Our thoughts and prayers are with the Johnson family at this time.
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