Dallas Journalist Leaves His Mark

Joshua Johnson

To Joshua…

Lincoln High School is a special place, with special people and forever stories. I was just a freshman when I met you - the senior very sure of self, but in the most humble way possible. You knew worlds more than seemingly the average high school senior in the year 2000, but you didn’t enter any room ready to tell the audience everything you knew.

You were a great listener and a quiet motivator.

Our conversations were never long, but so very satisfying. It made my heart smile to be able to speak journalistically with such a real and a raw soul writer. You understood me. You never stopped sharing opportunities with me. I adored the fact that you knew how to do every single job a journalist can do, but you would constantly offer opportunities to other journalists.

There were times I found myself frustrated about the male-dominated sports journalism world. I shared with you what you already knew - that most times I was the brown girl with the camera in a sea of non-brown men, many of whom didn’t want me there. Instead of coddling me, you would send me more opportunities to get right back in there. You knew that I had a passion for sports. It didn’t matter what publication I worked for, if they didn’t look out for me – you did. If I asked you for a credential to a big sporting event, you sent the email without hesitation.

You had this way about you that made people around you feel taken care of. I absolutely loved the way you loved your friends. I met Tasha first, but within moments I knew about Josh. I met Ebony after I met you, but again – I learned about the giving spirit of Josh.

It never mattered the nature of our conversation; we always shared a laugh before parting. Your charm, your spirit, your dedication to both your craft and the people who directly benefited from your craft will never be forgotten. You will never be forgotten.

I’ll miss seeing that social media “like” from you on my articles. I’ll miss how you stuck to your stance, even while absorbing countering stances all around you. Your opinions were so bold and mature, yet you offered those opinions with such affability and sincerity. We didn’t always agree, but I never left a conversation or a text exchange feeling like I couldn’t come back the next day with something even more intricate.

You were an innovative intellectual, a forward thinker and a true academician. You left your mark.

I don’t know what took you from this world, but I know nothing will ever remove the words you’ve written on hearts all around the world.  

From the Desk of Ari Christine