Johnson received his Bachelor of Arts from Xavier University of Louisiana in May 1986 and completed Post Baccalaureate work in Public Administration at St. Louis University from 1981 to 1982. He received his Doctor of Jurisprudence in May 1986 from Texas Southern University's Thurgood Marshall School of Law,^[2] where he was a member of the Thurgood Marshall Student Bar Association, Senior Class President, and Phi Alpha Delta President. He also attended Christian Brothers College High School of St. Louis, Missouri.

Johnson was the President and CEO, from its 2002 establishment, of the Washington, D.C. Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation, Inc. The President of the United States and the U.S. Congress charged the foundation with erecting a memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. to honor the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. Under Johnson’s leadership, the foundation raised more than $112 million of the original budget of $120 million for the memorial, saving a further $8 million by having the memorial made in China; positioned three boards (Executive Leadership Cabinet, Governing Board and Honorary Board) for the foundation; and garnered support from all living U.S. Presidents, Congress, members of the corporate and nonprofit communities, and celebrities. Johnson oversaw the Memorial through to its dedication on August 28, 2011.^[3]

From 2001 to 2004, Johnson served as the 31st National President of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.^[2][4] Johnson was not only the youngest person elected to the position of National President in 40 years, but was also elected with the highest margin of any president in 20 years. While in this role, Johnson oversaw over 700 chapters located throughout the United States and abroad; increased the number of chapters in good standing; and was credited with enhancing the national image of the organization with fraternity members, business leaders and political officials.

Johnson has received a number of recognitions for his community involvement and public service, including:

• Trumpet Awards, President’s Award, 2011
• National Service Award, Diplomatic Core, Washington, D.C., 2007
• Trailblazer Award, NAACP, Missouri City Branch, 2004
• One Hundred Black Men, Community Service Award, 2004
• Ebony Magazine, 100 Most Influential Black Americans, 2001–2004
• Fraser Power Networking panelist, 2003
• National Leadership Award, Delta Sigma Theta, 2002
• Ensemble Theater, Father of the Year, 2002
• Congressional Black Caucus Panelist, 2002
• Alumnus of the Year, Thurgood Marshall School of Law, 1995

Johnson has dedicated his time to many community groups and issues, including voter registration, blood donations, birth defects and teenage pregnancy, HIV/AIDS, the National Marrow Donor Program, and the National Blood Drive, Boy Scouts of America and Big Brothers of America.

• National Board Member of Big Brothers Big Sisters
• National Member of March of Dimes Volunteer Corps
• State Bar of Texas
• American Bar Association
• National Bar Association
• NAACP, Missouri City Branch
• National Volunteer, Boy Scouts of America
• Texas Trial Lawyers Association
• Houston Trial Lawyers Association
• One Hundred Black Men
• Board Member of the Sam Houston Boy Scouts of America

• Dedicate the Dream. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation, Inc. Dedication website