“A woman who is convinced that she deserves to accept only the best challenges herself to give the best. Then she is living phenomenally.” ~ Maya Angelou (Rosa Johnson’s aunt)
Each month, this People of Prominence series features a local figure who has made a mark of one sort or another.
It was initially begun as a labor of love to spotlight oftentimes unsung people who deserved to be brought to our collective attention.
For this month’s edition of People of Prominence, I have decided to break the proverbial fourth wall to present a first-person perspective.
This month, I present Rosa Johnson. Instead of fleshing out a person’s fascinating journey through a series of questions and answers, this time I wanted to make the article more personal. This particular interview left me a bit unhinged and inspired.
I sat with Rosa in the living room of her comforting modest apartment north of Winston-Salem. When you walk in, you are immediately struck by the pastiche of art and artifacts everywhere. Her life, there in living color, gave me pause with my mouth agape and a slow shake of my head that honored the surroundings. I immediately knew I was in the presence of someone mystical, philosophical and artistically potent.
Rosa perched upon a footstool as I sat upon her small couch. She looked up with dark, mesmerizing eyes. They are eyes that house memories like a jar of fireflies. During our conversation, she would often place both of her hands against those eyes as if to contain those fireflies and keep them from escaping. I got the sense that reminiscing on her rich life surprises and astonishes her.
Rosa Johnson has spent her 81 years among us as the “Queen Mother of Hair Braids” for Stevie Wonder and so many others. She cultivated a talent for braiding at a time when African Americans in our country turned to this ornate tradition.
Rosa, while living in California and operating a salon, put out the word that if anyone would alert Stevie Wonder to her talent for hair braids, she would braid his hair for free.
And, like so many occasions in her life, the universe manifested her desire and destiny. She met Stevie and spent 10 years upon the whirlwind wake of his global tours all the while creating elaborate, ornate braids for his signature look.
As if that connection weren’t enough, Rosa is also the niece of the late Maya Angelou who was a preeminent author and spiritual activist for our nation.
“Auntie [Maya] saved my life a few times. I remember once when I had accepted an invitation to date a man I knew was not good for me and who would have definitely led me into a darkened life. As I was preparing to go on this date, Auntie Maya sent a limo and I was extended a trip, just for me, to Big Sur in Northern California. I took her up on this trip instead of going with this man. Auntie knew nothing about the man I was about to date, but once again, the universe via Auntie paved my way to a brighter destination.”
During her 50s, Rosa experienced heartbreak upon the death of her only son. But, true to fashion, God swept up the debris of tragedy and spoke to Rosa through Auntie Maya who implored Rosa to come here to North Carolina, heal her broken heart and attend Salem College. And, at a time later in life when many would have listlessly rolled over and succumbed to adversity, Rosa listened to her wizened aunt who told her she was deserving of higher education. Maya cheered her on to graduation from college with Oprah Winfrey giving that year’s commencement speech. And, thus began with Oprah another pivotal famous friendship.
The famous names in her life’s rolodex have painted a tapestry of anecdotes that will astound any listener.
“I remember often Stevie [Wonder] would be running late…. I was with Nina Simone in the airport that time…Red Foxx once told me…then I lived in the former home of Frank Lloyd Wright…if you listen to the song ‘Happy Birthday’ by Stevie Wonder, you can hear me on the background vocals….”
The stories have me, once again, with my mouth halfway open and shaking my head in reverence. She doesn’t tell these stories in an audacious bragging tone; they are instead humble brushstrokes of an artist exposing the canvas of her remarkable life as a resilient mother, an activist, a strong fearless woman, a flawed and flawless human.
Let us not forget that the name of Rosa’s photographic exhibit in 2023 was “Straw into Gold.” Rosa explains it as having been an extensive photographic account of her life and artistry. She proudly states that it detailed her life that “began as straw and could have stayed as straw but became gold…or actually platinum now at my age.”
I readily imagine God standing at the assembly line of creation of Ms. Rosa and being heard to say, “Watch this. I am going to mold someone who I will inundate with experiences, encounters, creativity and a love so profound that she cannot help but live a full, expressive life. She may find herself on a hard-scrabble path but will, ultimately, make such an impression upon others that she cannot be ignored or defeated.”
Rosa tells me of a recent story detailing the chair yoga class she enjoys taking. She tells me about who sits on either side of her at each class. A younger man is to her right with whom she bonds and encourages and that he dances with her from a seated position. The woman to her left has always been a friendly acquaintance who recently presented her with a beautiful tapestry she had bought depicting Mother Mary. Rosa has been struck by the unassuming kindness of this woman and perhaps doesn’t realize that people stand in awe of her and are all too happy to give her their attention and their gifts just as she has done for others all her life.
I ultimately concluded our interview with, “Ms. Rosa, what does the world need more of?”
Without hesitation, she answered, “Unconditional love.”
And then, “Ms. Rosa, what does the world need less of?”
Again, without missing a beat, she said, “Fear. So many people are afraid. So many are scared and uncertain. They need…love.”
After the interview with Rosa, I texted my wife to say, “someday you must meet this woman.” It was as if I had been given an unexpected, unforgettable and unforeseen surprise that I wanted to share with my beloved.
I conveyed my impressions of the time I spent with Rosa to others at my workplace. I watched as people would listen to my recounting of her life and her experiences, and they all had the same look on their face with their own mouth dropped open and a slow shake of the head. They weren’t there with Rosa and me at the interview, but they could feel the warm color of Rosa’s landscape.
I have never been more grateful for the opportunity to be reminded that everyone has a story. Sometimes those stories are simple, and sometimes complex, but most assuredly, always a blessing.
Thank you, Ms. Rosa.
