The Wit and Wisdom of David Johnson: What if John Wayne Had been Black?

Growing up, I was mesmerized by every single movie that starred John Wayne. The characters he portrayed were strong, morally conscious men who fought for what’s right, even if they stood alone. They defended the defenseless and were usually fiercely patriotic. Even though I knew nothing about his private life, I wanted to be like John Wayne.
Now, as I approach my seventh decade of life, something recently happened that showed me that as a Caucasian I took all of that for granted. I had never considered what it must be like to be a child of color and never see a Black actor consistently portraying those qualities.
You’re probably familiar with the 2018 movie “Black Panther” with Chadwick Boseman playing the title role. I enjoyed it so much I saw it twice. But I saw it as a White person and never thought about what it might have been like to watch it as a Black person.
It was a replay of an episode of “The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon” that showed me how impactful Chadwick Boseman’s portrayal had been and continues to be. African Americans were asked to share their thanks and admiration for the film. Here’s what some of them had to say:
“I just want to say thank you so much for making ‘Black Panther.’ I can’t express how much it means to me and the community and my family. Thank you from the very bottom of my heart for all that you’ve done, for really being a hero that we really need in a time like this. Thank you so much.”
“It means a lot to see a movie that’s not, like, a ‘Black movie,’ but it’s just a great American superhero movie with people that look like me.”
“For me, as the mother of a young son, my son’s childhood has been defined by Barack Obama and now Black Panther, so thank you.”
“As a creator, as an entrepreneur of color, just seeing this movie made me realize that our stories need to be told. There’s so many of us out here who are trying to create great things. I was just so inspired as someone who wants to make movies one day, wants to inspire people, that art can really change the world.”
“I absolutely loved Black Panther. On a personal note, my father is African. He’s from Ghana. He’s a scientist. My mother, my sisters — brilliant African American women. So basically, everything that represents me, was honored in this movie.”
“I am a Howard University student, and that is your alma mater. I am so, so, so very proud to say that a Bison is the Black Panther. It was a big deal for me and my friends. I just want to say thank you so much for showing us that there are avenues for us.”
“I want to thank you for making ‘Black Panther’ for the kids. Representation is very important. It gives the kids hope.”
“Words can’t even describe what this movie has meant to me and to other Black people.”
After watching and listening to these people, it convinced me I grew up as a person with White Privilege and that Institutional Racism is a real thing. Those are the only reasons I can give for why more Black actors weren’t given the kinds of roles John Wayne portrayed.
Individual racism is more easily recognized because of its overt nature, but institutional racism is less perceptible because of its far more subtle nature.
I get it when people say how you are raised determines what kind of person you become. I, too, agree with that statement, but only to a point, because environmental forces also play a role, along with personal choice.
What if?
What if generations of Black boys had grown up watching someone demonstrate those kinds of traits that John Wayne portrayed?
Of course, no one can say what the answer might be. But at the least, each of us can:
Be more conscious of White Privilege and Institutional Racism
Speak out against it when we see it
Correct it in our own lives
Give people of color the benefit of the doubt before we jump to conclusions
Have conversations with people of color with the intent of listening and understanding them
* Taken from The Wit and Wisdom of David Johnson, Volume 1: I Didn’t Know Donkeys Could Laugh.