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March 28, 2017African American WWI Hero Henry Johnson Celebrated in New WMHT Documentary
WMHT-TV (PBS) announces the premiere of HENRY JOHNSON: A TALE OF COURAGE celebrating the life and legend of the African American WWI hero Sgt. Henry Johnson who was posthumously recognized in 2015 with the Medal of Honor by former President Barack Obama. HENRY JOHNSON: A TALE OF COURAGE premieres Tuesday, April 11, 2017 at 7:30pm on WMHT-TV with additional airdates in April. The public is invited to a free preview screening on April 4, 2017 at 6pm at the New York State Museum’s Huxley Theater.
Henry Johnson, aka Henry Lincoln Johnson/William Henry Johnson, was an African American U.S. Army soldier who fought heroically in the 369th Infantry Regiment of the U.S. Army in World War I. Dubbed ‘The Harlem Hellfighters,’ the 369th was the most well-known African American unit of WWI.
In May 1918 in the Argonne Forest of Northeast France, Johnson fought off a German raid in hand-to-hand combat, killing multiple German soldiers and rescuing a fellow soldier before fainting from the 21 wounds with which he was afflicted.
Johnson’s efforts were recognized by the French who awarded him the Croix de Guerre with a golden palm on the ribbon, making him the first American ever to receive the honor. The 369th Infantry Regiment were welcomed home with a ticker tape parade in New York City, February 1919.
Johnson took part in a national lecture circuit after the war and was met with praise as well as condemnation. It was at a speaking event in St. Louis where his speech expressed the reality of returning to the United States as a Black veteran, causing many to turn from him, banishing him to obscurity.
WMHT’s HENRY JOHNSON: A TALE OF COURAGE tells the story of his life, his family, and the extensive efforts to honor his bravery and courage after his death. Johnson was finally honored with the Purple Heart in 1996, the Distinguished Service Cross in 2002, and the Medal of Honor in 2015.
HENRY JOHNSON: A TALE OF COURAGE includes interviews with author Max Brooks (World War Z), who did extensive research on WWI for a graphic novel; Aaron Noble, Senior Historian for the New York State Museum; and Arthur Collins, President of the Ebony Doughboys, an African American WWI reenactors.
‘WMHT upholds its longstanding commitment to telling the stories of all members of our community through HENRY JOHNSON: A TALE OF COURAGE,’ says WMHT’s President and CEO Robert Altman. ‘We aspire to honor the life and legacy of Johnson and all who were not provided due recognition for their service during this and other wars. We hope this documentary will lend a critical eye to the histories told and forgotten.’
The public and media are welcome to a preview screening and discussion of HENRY JOHNSON: A TALE OF COURAGE on April 4, 2017 at 6pm at the New York State Museum’s Huxley Theater. HENRY JOHNSON: A TALE OF COURAGE’s Producer Zeke Kubisch will be joined by Barbara Smith, the City of Albany’s Special Community Projects Coordinator and the New York State Museum’s Senior Historian Aaron Noble.
This preview screening of HENRY JOHNSON: A TALE OF COURAGE is part of a month-long Capital Region-wide series of programs, organized by Albany Pro Musica around the theme of Reconciliation and Peace, that culminates in the chorus’ performance of Karl Jenkins’ ‘The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace’ on May 6, 2017, 7:30pm at EMPAC. For detailed information on these programs as well as ticket information for the concert, go to http://www.albanypromusica.org/concerts
HENRY JOHNSON: A TALE OF COURAGE premieres Tuesday, April 11, 2017 at 7:30pm on WMHT-TV with additional airdates to follow. Free public preview screening and panel discussion Tuesday, April 4, 2017 at 6pm at the New York State Museum’s Huxley Theater. The screening will include portions of American Experience’s upcoming documentary THE GREAT WAR which looks at how WWI transformed America through the stories of African-American soldiers, feminist activists, and Native-American ‘code-talkers.’ Watch all 3-parts of THE GREAT WAR on WMHT-TV April 10-12, 2017 at 9pm. Learn more here: wmht.org/henryjohnson
Support for HENRY JOHNSON: A TALE OF COURAGE provided by The Carl E. Touhey Foundation.
