I hope you will enjoy watching this video where I played “Mr. Albert Johnson” in this theatrical production of Alice Walker’s novel, The Color Purple. In 1987-well over 25 years ago now-I was in the 8th grade at Holton Middle School in Durham, North Carolina. It is arguably the first ever performance of both the movie and novel appearing at the time the movie had just appeared on the big screens. Under the direction of Mr. Leon Rouson, now a professor at Norfolk State University–and former Durham City Schools Teacher of the Year, North Carolina Teacher of the Year and runner up for National Black Teacher of the Year–who adapted it for a group of 13-year-old, 8th graders, hailing from the inner-city of Durham, North Carolina , many of us have gone on to achieve educational successes ranging from the completion of high school and baccalaureate and post-baccalaureate degrees. Holton Middle School no longer functions as a middle school. Holloway Street Elementary School and Durham High School where I attended elementary and high school are also now defunct.
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Brian Johnson, Ph.D. 