Lifelong educator, rancher and State Democratic Party superstar Cedric Johnson shares Oklahoma's rich history with hosts Nicole Franklin and Bryant Monteilh. And, during the show, Mr. Johnson receives a surprise visit from his past!
In this postcard from Oklahoma, we meet Cedric Johnson, the first African American to represent the State of Oklahoma at a Democratic National Convention. Since this was 2016, Mr. Johnson, who had been a Republican earlier in life, was well into his 80s when he was asked to take on this role. And why not? He had a stellar career as teacher and principal in Muskogee, spending a significant amount of his life as both a student and educator at the historic Manual Training High School. He has a lot to teach us about the rich history of the numerous African American towns in his beloved state. While getting to know Mr. Johnson--especially through the memories of former student Linda Taylor-Vaughn who joins the chat--it is not a surprise that this is a man, a total gentleman, who at one time owned a ranch with sixty horses and cows under his care. During this tour through a life well-lived, we are in good hands.
This interview first aired on KBLA Talk 1580 in Los Angeles.