Mr. Speaker, I rise today during Black History Month to commemorate the Johnson family and The Weekly Challenger, an unwavering pillar of journalism that has kept our Tampa Bay area neighbors connected with uplifting local stories. Their dedication to preserving the Black community shapes a legacy for generations to come.

The Weekly Challenger origin story starts with Mr. Cleveland Johnson Jr. who was born in Thomasville, Ga., but always considered himself a St. Petersburg native after his family moved to the area in the early 1930s. He attended Davis Elementary and Gibbs High School, was later drafted into the U.S. Army, and then met and married his wife, Ethel, in 1958. In the early years of their marriage, Mr. Johnson searched for his calling and held down many jobs to provide for his growing family. He found his purpose through friend and mentor, M.C. Fountain, who owned Fountain Printers on 16th Street South. Mr. Johnson started selling advertisements for Fountain’s Weekly Advertiser in 1964.

By 1967, The Weekly Challenger was founded, and Mr. Johnson led with the intent to reshape the way journalism was circulated in St. Petersburg by creating a platform to highlight and uplift the Black community. “If you want to read about Black people doing something bad, pick up the St. Pete Times, but if you want to read about Black people doing something positive, pick up a Challenger.” The Weekly Challenger served not only as a news source but also as a vital historical record, sharing stories often overlooked by mainstream newspapers. The Johnsons were quite a team, raised three children, while Ethel worked various jobs and assisted Mr. Johnson with The Weekly Challenger.

Under Mr. Johnson’s leadership, The Weekly Challenger grew from a modest publication into a robust community newspaper. The pages expanded to include color photography, full-page advertisements, and an array of stories reflecting the local Black community. With its continued success, demand led the newspaper to expand its distribution from St. Petersburg to Tampa, Clearwater, and other surrounding areas. It is evident that this success is rooted in the Johnson family's commitment and in The Weekly Challenger’s praise and celebration of the local community.

Mr. Johnson passed away on July 29, 2001, and his family stepped in to continue commemorating Black history and culture in Pinellas County. The Johnsons left a cherished memory of compassion, community empowerment, and entrepreneurship rooted in the heart of St. Petersburg.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored to recognize the outstanding leadership and service for six decades that The Weekly Challenger and the Johnson family have shown to the community. The Weekly Challenger remains a cornerstone of the community and will carry forward with the narrative of “making history together.”