A
Heart-to-Heart with America
© Salamander Hopsitality 2010
Entrepreneur and philanthropist
Sheila Crump Johnson is the only
African-American female to enjoy ownership in three professional sports
teams: the WNBA's Washington Mystics, the NBA's Washington Wizards and the
NHL's Washington Capitals. Furthermore, as CEO of Salamander Hospitality, a
company she founded in 2005, Ms. Johnson oversees a growing portfolio of
luxury properties, including Woodlands Inn, in Summerville, SC, which is one
of only a handful of properties to receive both a prestigious Forbes Five
Star rating and a AAA Five Diamond rating for lodging and dining.
In 2007, she acquired Innisbrook, a Salamander Golf & Spa Resort. Set on 900
acres, this 72-hole
In addition, Johnson is a partner in ProJet Aviation, a company
specializing in aviation consulting, aircraft acquisitions, management, and
charter services based in
Ms. Johnson has long been a powerful influence in the entertainment
industry as a founding partner of Black Entertainment Television (BET) and,
most recently, as a film producer. In partnership with other investors, her
first film,
Kicking It,
premiered at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival. She executive produced her
second film,
A Powerful Noise, which premiered at the 2008 TriBeCa
Film Festival in
In 2006 she was named global ambassador for CARE, a leading
humanitarian organization fighting poverty worldwide by empowering women
since they are in a pivotal position to help their communities escape
poverty. "Sheila's I Am Powerful Challenge" was instrumental in raising
funds for this important work.
A fervent supporter of the arts and education, she was recently
appointed by Barack Obama to the President's Committee on the Arts and the
Humanities and serves as Chair of the Board of Governors of Parsons The New
School for Design in
An accomplished violinist, Ms. Johnson received a Bachelor of Arts in music
from the
Here, she talks about her new film,
The Other City,
an expose' about the HIV/AIDS crisis in
Sheila Johnson
with
Kam Williams
Kam Williams:
Hi, Ms. Johnson, it's an honor to speak with you.
Sheila Johnson:
Thanks, Kam, how are you?
KW:
Fine thanks. I saw The Other City and loved it, and
I told my readers I'd be interviewing you, so I have plenty of questions to
get to.
SJ:
Oh, great!
KW:
Reverend Florine
Thompson asks, what is it about HIV/AIDS that prompted you to produce the
film?
SJ:
I really wanted to do this film in order to ignite
the discussion, and to reeducate. What has been happening, that is so wrong
right now is that AIDS has disappeared from the radar screen. It's no longer
a celebrity-driven cause anymore, so I wanted to bring it back to the
people. I also wanted to give dignity to the victims now suffering with
AIDS, so that people can see not only that the disease hasn't gone away, but
is spreading at an alarming rate and disproportionately affecting
African-American women. So, I think we need to get out and start educating
young people, and especially the black churches need to be talking about it
from the pulpit. And we, as a society, need to stop hiding behind the stigma
in order to be able to give the disease the platform we need to start the
reeducation process and halt the increase in the transmission rate.
KW:
2010
SJ:
How it has increasingly become a heterosexual
disease. The thing I wished the movie had emphasized more was how many
married women we now have coming down with it. Their husbands are bringing
it home to them. I had three women come up to me and say that the only sin
they committed in life was getting married. That's very sad. The other
surprising thing we're finding is that AIDS is hitting at a younger age, as
young as 13 among gay males.
KW:
Lester Chisholm says that
Urban Prep, an African-American male charter high school in
SJ:
I think that we really could stop this disease, if
we seriously educate our young people, starting in junior high, and continue
delivering the message in high schools and across college campuses. I really
do. Meanwhile, scientists and doctors are still working on finding a cure,
and some say they're getting closer and closer. Between education and
research, we can stop it.
KW:
Larry Greenberg says, "I
know that in addition to your enormous accomplishments in business and
philanthropy you are a virtuoso violinist." He asks, "Do you still find time
to play?"
SJ:
I don't. I'm very ashamed about that. My mother's
on me all the time about that, and so, is my husband. He always says,
"You're such a great violinist. Why don't you keep playing?" I guess what
has happened is that between raising a family and trying to keep businesses
afloat I just do not have the time to practice, because I'm such a
perfectionist. I suppose I could make the time, even if I sat down for just
an hour every day, but I've lost the discipline of practice.
KW:
Rev
Thompson asks, "Who has been your role model along your journey? Who or what
has been your source of inspiration in life?"
SJ:
I'd have to say there have been many, many people.
Basically, educators have been my role models. There are two teachers in
particular, from high school and college, who I stay in touch with and talk
to on about a monthly basis. And as I've gotten older, there have been more
and more people I've met in life who've become role models. Four years ago,
I remarried, and my husband is one of the most inspiring men I've ever met.
He's a Chief Judge, and I just love to watch him on the bench to observe how
he tries to find a silver lining in the most hardened of criminals in order
to give them a second chance. Another person I admire is the President of
the
KW:
Reverend
Thompson asks, "What would you like to accomplish that you haven't already?"
SJ:
I'm in the third act of my life with this
hospitality company,
Salamander.
The one thing I really want to do is to continue to build this resort that
I've been working on
in
KW:
So, I guess the rumors
I've heard about what you've encountered are true.
SJ:
It was unbelievable… the death threats… you have no
idea.
KW:
Did you regret endorsing Republican Bob McDonnell
for Governor of Virginia, given that after he won the election he issued a
proclamation declaring April Confederate History Month?
SJ:
Yep, I think I've been thrown under the bus. It was
quite an embarrassment. My husband had warned me, too. The one thing I
learned from this experience is that I will never get involved in politics
again on either side. I'm declaring myself an independent. I was just
shocked. A group of us, including the President of Hampton University plan
to meet with the Governor soon to discus it.
KW:
Yale grad Tommy Russell says, "Since you're a former media executive, what
do you think about Comcast's move to buy a controlling stake in
NBC/Universal--good move or bad move from NBC's perspective?"
SJ:
Well, I will tell you that not only print, but all media are struggling
right now. These are business decisions that only the people running the
company can really answer. Those on the outside shouldn't be too judgmental
about these mergers. There are reasons why they're happening, and it's
really for the survival of the market.
KW:
From Reverend
Thompson again: What most informs your spirituality?
SJ:
I have always been a strong Christian? Growing up,
I never missed church. I'm not as good about going right now, because I'm
always travelling so much. But I pray every day… before I get out of bed…and
when I go to bed at night. I have a very strong spiritual core.
KW:
Finally, the Rev asks, what advice would you give a
young lady who seeks the level of success you've attained?
SJ:
Stay humble. Don't ever, ever take anything for
granted in life. Don't assume anything. It's is very important to have love
and passion for whatever you do.
KW:
Is there any question no one ever asks you, that you wish someone would?
SJ:
[Chuckles] I wish someone would ask me to be an
ambassador someday.
KW:
The Tasha Smith question: Are
you ever afraid?
SJ:
Yes, there are times when I'm afraid. Just building
that hotel in
Middleburg made me fearful on many different levels. Sometimes, I get
anxious. One of my biggest problems is that I tend to get very impatient,
especially during this recession. I'm a little bit afraid about the economy,
because it really does affect everyone, and you just don't know what's going
to happen.
KW:
The Columbus Short question:
Are you happy?
SJ:
I am very happy. I have reached a point in my life
where I feel safe for the first time. In my personal life, I have lots of
friends, and I've learned to be comfortable with myself, and I don't feel
the need to prove anything. I'm following my passion, and I wake up everyday
wanting to do more.
KW:
The bookworm
Troy Johnson question: What was the
last book you read?
 Game Change: Obama and the Clintons, McCain and Palin, and the Race of a Lifetime Click to order via Amazon |
KW:
The music maven Heather Covington question: What are you listening to on
your iPod?
SJ:
It depends on my mood. I tend to listen to a lot of
jazz. If I'm going to bed at night, I might listen to classical music, but I
do like jazz.
KW:
What is your favorite dish to cook?
SJ:
Anything that is Italian. Pasta is my favorite food
in the world.
KW:
The
Teri Emerson question: When was the last time you had a good laugh?
SJ:
[LOL] I laugh every day. Let me think f the
funniest thing that happened recently... My husband is a very funny man for
a judge. He just told me a joke that I can't remember, but he keeps me
laughing all the time.
KW:
The Ling-Ju Yen question:
What is your earliest childhood memory?
SJ:
It would my first day of school in kindergarten. I
was sitting in the classroom, and the little boy across the table made
pee-pee on my foot, and I'll never forget that. [Chuckles]
KW:
When you look in the mirror,
what do you see?
SJ:
Oh, I see a woman that is aging gracefully, who's
happy, and seems to be at peace with herself.
KW:
If you could have one wish instantly granted, what
would that be for?
SJ:
To recover from this recession and have my hotel
opened.
KW:
The Uduak Oduok question: Who is your favorite clothes designer?
SJ:
Donna Karan.
KW: The Laz Alonso question: How
can your fans help you?
SJ:
By, instead of asking for a handout, offering to
help me help others.
KW:
How do you want to be remembered?
SJ:
As a woman who was always generous, not only with
her pocketbook, but with her heart.
KW:
Well, thank you for being so generous with your
time, thoughts and feelings here. I really appreciate it.
SJ:
You are so welcome.
A trailer for The Other City:
