Duluth remembers civil rights activist Portia Johnson

061420.N.DNT.CJMSilence c01.JPG — Portia Johnson, of Duluth, was a civil rights activist and community volunteer. She died July 21.

By Teri Cadeau

July 31, 2024 at 9:14 AM

DULUTH — Portia Johnson was a difficult person to pin down succinctly. In her work life, she was a certified nursing assistant at Chris Jensen Health and Rehabilitation Center and a cartographer for St. Louis County.

But that was just where her dedication to the Duluth community began.

Interior view of historical exhibit. Poster in foreground shows photograph of Black woman and title "Portia Johnson." In background, historical graphic titled "The Work" is seen. — Portia Johnson was featured in the exhibit "The Life, the Work, the Fight: Black Duluth in History" on Feb. 8, 2023, in the Zeitgeist atrium.

Born in Columbus, Ohio, Johnson moved to Duluth in 1966. She immediately jumped in and got involved. Over the years, she was an activist who served as president of the Duluth NAACP and was a member of the Arrowhead Regional Correction Advisory Board, Duluth Public Schools Desegregation/Integration Council, African American Educational Advisory Council, League of Women Voters and St. Louis County End to Homelessness Committee. Johnson was a founding member of the Clayton Jackson McGhie Memorial committee.

1_Portia Johnson.jpg — Portia Johnson receives her COVID-19 vaccination at the American Indian Community Housing Organization in Duluth in 2021.

"She really changed the League of Women Voters," said school board member Rosie Loeffler-Kemp, a fellow League of Women Voters member. "She made us bolder; she made us stronger. She would share her story with our Citizens in Action workshop attendees and she'd boldly share the ways that Duluth needed to change and how we could all be a part of that."

Johnson was known for her continued presence at the former Central High School. She was a Minnesota delegate for the DFL party three times and attended Bill Clinton's inauguration.

"She's someone who has had a great impact on our community," said Duluth Public Schools Superintendent John Magas. "She was a staunch civil rights activist who wasn't afraid to speak her mind."

Portia Johnson Drive vertical — Portia Johnson stands on the road renamed in her honor, Portia Johnson Drive, which leads from Blackman Avenue to the now-former Central High School in Duluth, in October 2007.

In 2007, the road leading up to Central High School became Portia Johnson Drive as she was a strong supporter of the school and fought for the site's continuation. After the school closed in 2011, the drive saw less use until the new District Service Center opened last year at 709 Portia Johnson Drive.

Henry Banks, school board member, colleague and friend, said he advocated to have a rededication ceremony to Johnson this summer and to extend the drive name past the Service Center. Johnson died July 21, two days before the ceremony.

Portia Johnson ribbon cutting — Portia Johnson's son, Rick Jones, cuts the ribbon rededicating and extending Portia Johnson Drive near the Duluth Public Schools District Service Center on July 23.

"If I had concerns or issues that I was trying to work out as a young professional, I would always go down to Portia's office to get advice from her," Banks said. "She would take time to meet me over her lunch break to help me solve those issues. She did that for a lot of people. ... If you didn't know Portia, that's who she was."

Loeffler-Kemp echoed Banks' words about Johnson's mentorship. Her son, Seth Justice Loeffler-Kemp, received guidance from Johnson.

I know that many people quickly learned that she was a force to be reckoned with. She was the voice of those who cannot speak for themselves.

Rick Jones, son of Portia Johnson

"He invited Portia to the Chum annual dinner and she said she'd be honored," Loeffler-Kemp said. "It was just another example of the way she took time, not just for organizations, but to spend time with young people in our community. To teach them about justice and being involved. I'm just really grateful to have known her."

According to Johnson's son, Rick Jones, his mother didn't back down from a challenge.

Portia Johnson shovels dirt into a container held by Heidi Bakk-Hansen as Sharon Witherspoon and Claudie Washington, all of Duluth, watch Sept. 17, 2017, at the Clayton Jackson McGhie Memorial. Dirt was collected from the site for the Montgomery-based nonprofit Equal Justice Initiative honoring the three local lynching victims, Elias Clayton, Elmer Jackson and Isaac McGhie, to and pledge their alliance with the national effort.

"My mother remained committed to redeeming a broken system," Jones said. "She took on the challenge to create a lasting change where it was needed. Portia was involved in many projects and at the same time, she single-handedly raised four kids. She listened to the people of Duluth and gave voice to their concerns.

"I know that many people quickly learned that she was a force to be reckoned with," Jones said. "She was the voice of those who cannot speak for themselves."

Johnson's other son, Daylan Johnson, said attending the street rededication ceremony was a unique experience to get to see how the community saw his mother.

"It's eye-opening to hear all about the awards and the impact that she really had on this community," Daylan said. "When you're growing up, you don't think of her as that. I didn't see the kind of fight she was doing for us and for others. So I'm glad my girls got to be here to hear that about their grandma, too."

Gathering — Pictured at a Duluth Education Equity gathering, from left: Allegra Henderson with the Office of Education; Portia Johnson; I.V. Foster, Duluth Public Schools superintendent; and Duane Byrd, director of Youth in Duluth.

By Teri Cadeau

Teri Cadeau is a features reporter for the Duluth News Tribune. Originally from the Iron Range, Cadeau has worked for several community newspapers in the Duluth area, including the Duluth Budgeteer News, Western Weekly, Weekly Observer, Lake County News-Chronicle, and occasionally, the Cloquet Pine Journal. When not working, she's an avid reader, crafter, dancer, trivia fanatic and cribbage player.

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