Jordan Johnson

Name: Jordan Imani Johnson

Age: 21

Hometown: Sandusky, Ohio

Current town: Kansas City, Missouri

College/Activities: Kansas City Kansas Community College, volleyball player and occasional coach

What does being Black mean to you?

“Being Black means being a part of something bigger than myself. It means understanding where I come from and the history of pain and suffering that comes with that, and not forgetting it. It means I have no time to be comfortable because at the end of the day, I will constantly have to prove myself to the next person and show them the person I truly am, and not what society shows them. Black is beautiful and Black is powerful.”

If you don’t mind sharing, what was your earliest experience with racism?

“For this question, I had to really think back. When you are young, you often don't catch onto things until you get older. My earliest experience with racism was when I was in about 6th grade. I was told I was only athletic because I was Black and that sports are what Black people are good at. At the time I thought it was true, but as I grew older and gained more experience, I realized we are worth more than playing a sport for someone’s entertainment, that all of us matter outside of just being athletes, actors, and models.”

What do you want non-Black POC and white allies to know right now?

“You are appreciated more than you could know. Society is a dark place and for you to be bold enough to speak up for something that you recognize and can acknowledge within another community is a beautiful thing. Continue to stand up for what is right and don’t be afraid for your voice to be heard.

P.S.: You cannot support BLM if you don’t support LGBTQ+ Black lives.”

Want to share a story about race, racism, colorism, prejudice, etc.?

“MY LIFE. My entire existence and my people's existence has been a story of race, racism, colorism, prejudice and hatred.”

Have you had any experiences with systemic racism (in school, work, etc.)?

“In school I felt as if I was often being ‘pushed through’ because I was an athlete and winning looked good for the school. There were also times in school where teachers would specifically pick on me when it came to me not understanding something. Almost making it a scene for the class to see.”

Back in high school, you kneeled during the national anthem as a member of the volleyball team at a game. As far as I remember, you were the first one at our school to do so, and potentially the only one. What kind of feedback did you get from that? Has anything changed? What led you to decide to do it?

“I was indeed the first and to my knowledge one of the only ones to take this step. I received a lot of negative feedback. I lost ‘friends’ and so called respect from people who couldn't quite understand my stance and reasoning, young and old. Nothing has really changed. I will say that in light of the tragic events in Minneapolis, a lot of people I played with stepped forward and apologized because they didn't really understand until that point. The apologies were a beautiful thing to me because it showed growth on their behalf, and that is all that I could ask for. Whether they saw it or not, there was racism running rampant through the halls of the high school. What led to my decision was being fed up and being treated as the token Black friend and teammate, continuing to watch my people being looked down upon and murdered simply for being Black. Even if I was just a high school athlete, I refused to be silent and silenced, and I refused to sit by any longer and do nothing.”

In your time as an athlete, were there any challenges you faced as a BIPOC?

“Entering gyms, people expected me to be extra-aggressive and ‘ghetto’ because I was a Black woman. Hearing white fans talk down on my race during games and speaking about my body as if I was not a person but an item to be manipulated as they saw fit.”

How did your experiences as a BIPOC differ from living in Ohio, to living in New Orleans, and to living in KC?

“Ohio still runs rampant with racism in a lot of places, so I experienced similar things with the above question. Entering a gym as an all black team assuming we were bad, student sections disrespecting us from the sidelines etc. NOLA and KC are very different because of where I am specifically. In KC, I am in a predominantly white community, whereas in NOLA, it was the complete opposite. It almost felt more welcoming in NOLA because I didn't feel like someone was truly looking down on me because of my skin, if that makes sense.”

What are you passionate about?

“I am passionate about being great and being my best self. Understanding the lessons life teaches me and using those in my next steps as well as using those tools to teach my sisters how to go about life the best way they can. I want other young Black girls to see women like them in high places doing great things.”

What inspires you?

“My sisters inspire me most. I am also inspired by learning new things and overcoming challenges.”

Who do you look up to?

“I honestly look up to all the men and women in my life. My parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, and even my cousins. A plethora of people in my family have beat the odds. They've surpassed what people think a Black person is and what people think they should amount to.”

If you have something you want to promote (your art, music, business, etc.) do it here!

“I do not have anything to promote, however I would like to dedicate my section of this to my friend and sister Dashiza Jordan. A beautiful soul gone too soon. She was proud to be a Black woman and was never afraid to let that be known. Rest in peace to my sister. I love you always baby.”

Here are some organizations Jordan would like to promote!

Black Girls Code: https://www.blackgirlscode.com/

Thurgood Marshall College Fund: https://www.tmcf.org/

Here are 20 of Jordan's favorite songs!

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2NEjMrWNzqztiTWqBc5tXH?si=3rDbgITiQ-auobgeai5f2Q