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Surviving Deep Waters: A Legendary Reporter's Story of Overcoming Poverty, Race, Violence, and His Mother's Deepest Secret
When you have nothing to lose, you can risk everything.
There was no reason to bet on Bruce Johnson, given where he started out. Poor, Black, and raised by a single mother who had a secret. He was the child she hid in plain view from the rest of her family.
Bruce would spend his youth at Chickasaw Park in Louisville—Kentucky’s segregated west end. He would grab the low hanging tree branches, then swing out over the Ohio River before dropping into the dangerous water below. He didn’t know how to swim, but was fearless and knew to paddle quickly back to shore before the current could drag him under. This tenacity served him well, and he learned to be a risk taker early on.
As an adult, he set out to just make a living—to do better than Black folks who tried their best before, while making his Momma and Grandmomma proud. His journey to becoming a successful TV journalist nearly killed him, but he refused to treat himself as a victim. His role was to use his voice and example to pull others out of deep waters.
The rollout for his retirement was unprecedented. Week-long on-air tributes, hour-long online tributes from corporate CEOs, former colleagues, Congressmembers, the Mayor, and the governor. After a near forty-five year career, all was deserved and expected, except for a final tribute—seeing his image secretly painted on the Wall of Fame outside the iconic Ben’s Chili Bowl restaurant alongside Barack and Michelle Obama, Oprah, and Dave Chappelle. No one could have imagined such an ending. Or could they? Bruce Johnson’s journey is the culmination of his mother and grandmother’s stories—the ultimate American story of race, opportunity, and perseverance.
There was no reason to bet on Bruce Johnson, given where he started out. Poor, Black, and raised by a single mother who had a secret. He was the child she hid in plain view from the rest of her family.
Bruce would spend his youth at Chickasaw Park in Louisville—Kentucky’s segregated west end. He would grab the low hanging tree branches, then swing out over the Ohio River before dropping into the dangerous water below. He didn’t know how to swim, but was fearless and knew to paddle quickly back to shore before the current could drag him under. This tenacity served him well, and he learned to be a risk taker early on.
As an adult, he set out to just make a living—to do better than Black folks who tried their best before, while making his Momma and Grandmomma proud. His journey to becoming a successful TV journalist nearly killed him, but he refused to treat himself as a victim. His role was to use his voice and example to pull others out of deep waters.
The rollout for his retirement was unprecedented. Week-long on-air tributes, hour-long online tributes from corporate CEOs, former colleagues, Congressmembers, the Mayor, and the governor. After a near forty-five year career, all was deserved and expected, except for a final tribute—seeing his image secretly painted on the Wall of Fame outside the iconic Ben’s Chili Bowl restaurant alongside Barack and Michelle Obama, Oprah, and Dave Chappelle. No one could have imagined such an ending. Or could they? Bruce Johnson’s journey is the culmination of his mother and grandmother’s stories—the ultimate American story of race, opportunity, and perseverance.
- GenresNonfiction
288 pages, Hardcover
Published February 22, 2022
10 people are currently reading
42 people want to read
About the author
Bruce Johnson
154 books6 followersBruce Johnson is Docent and Visiting Professor, Cultural History, University of Turku (Finland); Adjunct Professor, Contemporary Music Studies, Macquarie University (Sydney, Australia); Honorary Professor, Department of Music, University of Glasgow (Scotland, UK).
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
February 28, 2022
This was one of the most enjoyable books that I have read in a very long time. I have always followed Bruce Johnson and his news reporting career and have lived thru many of the events that he chronicled in his book. The book gave so much insight into who Bruce is as a person and how he overcame many obstacles to be the man that he is today. One would never expect that he experienced all that he did before becoming one of the best news reporters in the DC area. The story flowed so smoothly that I could not put it down, I ordered the book in September and not so patiently awaited its delivery... it was worth the wait!! Thank Bruce Johnson for sharing your story!
March 9, 2022
It's an enjoyable and easy read, even if it is a dramatic story.
I'm thinking that Bruce Johnson's experience could be an example of the "Great American Dream" for the 21st century -- A black man growing up in an urban ghetto with circumstances strongly against him. Yet through grit and determination, he succeeds despite the headwinds.
I'm thinking that Bruce Johnson's experience could be an example of the "Great American Dream" for the 21st century -- A black man growing up in an urban ghetto with circumstances strongly against him. Yet through grit and determination, he succeeds despite the headwinds.
November 20, 2022
Surviving Deep Waters by Bruce Johnson
Enjoyed reading the true story. The challenges and trails he faced when he went to school and work The first black News Journalist to Broadcast channel 9. Recommend book to 18 and older. Rate a 5 stars Great biography and issues of historical time's.
Enjoyed reading the true story. The challenges and trails he faced when he went to school and work The first black News Journalist to Broadcast channel 9. Recommend book to 18 and older. Rate a 5 stars Great biography and issues of historical time's.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews