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Robert L. Johnson Quotes

Robert L. JohnsonRobert L. Johnson
  • Mini Bio
  • Name: Robert Louis Johnson
  • Born: 8 April 1946 Hickory, Mississippi, U.S.
  • Alma mater University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign and Princeton University
  • Occupation: Businessman
  • Famous for: Co founder of BET (Black Entertainment Television)
  • Notorious for: Criticising Barack Obama
  • Trivia: He became the first African American billionaire

"I make a joke about Obama doing drugs (and it's) 'Oh my God, a black man tearing down another black man"

Robert L. Johnson

"In my zeal to support Senator Clinton, I made some very inappropriate remarks for which I am truly sorry. I hope that you will accept this apology" [to Barack Obama]

Robert L. Johnson

"My big break came when cable magnate John Malone, then CEO of Tele-Communications Inc., the country’s third-largest cable company, decided to invest in my company"

Robert L. Johnson

"I've provided a platform for a lot of African Americans on the entertainment side to become stars and a lot on the business side to become wealthy"

Robert L. Johnson

"The best decision I made since acquiring the Bobcats was to convince my friend Michael to become an investor in the Bobcats"

Robert L. Johnson

"Black people will become powerful in this country when they obtain power through the control of economic wealth"

Robert L. Johnson

"We are never going to close this gap unless there is a conscious commitment to do so"

Robert L. Johnson

"You’re sort of in a world where not many other African-Americans penetrate"

Robert L. Johnson

"BET was a business opportunity waiting for someone to put it together"

Robert L. Johnson

"I will always be proud of every second of programming on BET"

Robert L. Johnson

"I always worked, I was not afraid of getting my hands dirty"

Robert L. Johnson

"I thought I would meet to see if there's common ground with someone most in the black community might call an enemy"

Robert L. Johnson

"I had very positive dialogue with president-elect Trump"

Robert L. Johnson

"Tell us what we have to gain. Address our aspirations"

Robert L. Johnson

"Why shouldn't we, as Black voters, reject the notion that we are locked into one party"

Robert L. Johnson

"Black people have no permanent friends, no permanent enemies, just permanent interests"

Robert L. Johnson
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Robert L. Johnson Biography

Robert Louis Johnson was born in a small Mississippi hamlet call Hickory and he was one of seventeen children to his school teaching mother and farmer father.

Johnson excelled academically in an education that led to receiving a masters degree from the esteemed Princeton University.

Johnson's biggest business success was the building up and selling of BET (Black Entertainment Television) for a reported $3 billion making him the first African American billionaire. He has since been joined in that billionaire club by Oprah Winfrey and Michael Jordan. Johnson has since mooted the opportunity to work with Winfrey when he was quoted in an interview in 2009 as saying: "I would love a call from Oprah saying, ‘Bob, I hear you’ve got this idea for this TV channel. I’d love to co-own that with you and develop it’".

In another first he became the first black owner of a major North American basketball team with his majority holding in the Charlotte Bobcats who later changed name to the Charlotte Hornets after Johnson sold his stake to Michael Jordan.

Twice married he has led a colourful life which has seen him utter some memorable one liners over the years and here is my list of 16 of the best Robert L. Johnson quotes.

Quotes About Robert L. Johnson

Michael Jordan enthused: "I think Bob's going to do well. He has the first thing that you need in owning a basketball team, ... which is loving the game. And he's willing to fork over the money to make sure he builds a team solid"

The actor and a co-founder of Plan!t Now Morgan Freeman made this statement in 2011: "I am pleased to partner with Bob Johnson and his ClubCharity.com platform to help individuals who are most in need during critical weather months"

The business executive Bill Kennard was impressed to say: "Bob has shown tremendous commitment to developing talent in the African American community"


Robert L. Johnson quote