Dion A. Johnson - "Barbershop Chronicles"

In this insightful episode of Sticky Note Conversations, host Erika Washington sits down with Dion A. Johnson, a self-published author and veteran barber-stylist. Dion shares his journey from cutting hair in his basement as a teenager to chronicling his life and community in his book 'Revolutionary Vision Boulevard.' The conversation delves deep into the rich history of Black communities, the impact of strong family structures, and the evolving dynamics around voting and leadership. Dion also reflects on his personal experiences growing up in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan and the lessonshe instills in his children today. Join us for a heartfelt discussion that touches on community, leadership, and the power of storytelling.
Check out Dion's book "Revolutionary Boulevard"  https://a.co/d/3sVIo5k

• (00:00) - Introduction to Sticky Note Conversations
• (00:18) - Erica Washington's Opening Remarks
• (00:20) - Discussing Brown vs. Board of Education
• (01:55) - Introducing Dion Johnson
• (02:52) - Dion's Journey into Journalism
• (04:13) - The Barbering Experience
• (07:54) - Barbershop Conversations on Politics
• (10:58) - Community and Youth Engagement
• (20:00) - Dionne's Book: Revolutionary Vision Boulevard
• (21:46) - Growing Up in Bloomfield Hills
• (27:03) - The Importance of Family Structure
• (28:33) - Support for Sticky Note Conversations
• (29:45) - Synopsis of the Book
• (30:33) - Powerful Stories from the Past
• (31:26) - The Non-Struggle Story
• (33:27) - Black Excellence and Community
• (36:52) - Raising the Next Generation
• (38:06) - Marriage and Personal Growth
• (39:24) - A Tribute to Grandma
• (45:01) - Reflections on Democracy
• (48:33) - The American Dream
• (52:46) - Upcoming Projects and Final Thoughts

Creators and Guests

Producer

Erika Washington

SE

Editor

Simone Endress

WB

Composer

Wil Black

What is Sticky Note Conversations?

To keep my thoughts in order and my to-do lists remotely manageable I create arrays of sticky notes on my desk and wall. New idea? Stick note! Someone I want to meet with? Sticky Note! Need to remember to pay a parking ticket? Write it on a sticky note. Over the course of the last year, I have wanted to create a podcast that allowed me to dive deep into conversations with interesting people.. I wanted to have real conversations that were more than sound bites or regurgitated talking points about fluffy topics. My hope is that each episode feels like old friends catching up. Revealing great information but also humanity, struggle, victory, joy, grief, and possibly, a flicker of transcendence.

I hope you will enjoy these as much as I do creating them.
Join me here every Saturday as I pull a new sticky note off my desk.