Grambling State News

Pastor Charles “CeeJay” Johnson invoked a number of Grambling State University legends as he served as keynote speaker of GSU’s “Honoring Our Legacy: Inspiring Future Generations” Black History Program Thursday morning inside T.H. Harris Auditorium.

Marcus A. Kennedy, Grambling State University’s Director Campus Activities and Student Engagement said that “Honoring Our Legacy: Inspiring Future Generations” wasn’t only a theme for the program but a call to action directed at all in attendance.

“Today we are celebrating the remarkable contributions of our ancestors, whose sacrifices and triumphs have shaped the world we live in,” Kennedy said. “Their stories remind us of the resilience, the strength and creativity that defines our community.”

During his speech, Johnson paid tribute to the late Grambling football coach Eddie G. Robinson on the legend’s 106th birthday.

“There was one man by the name of Eddie G. Robinson who was the legendary football coach of Grambling State University and was a man of faith and passion,” Johnson said. “He coached here for 57 years, and he transformed Black men into leaders both on and off the field.

“He didn’t let segregation or limited resources stop him from doing what God had called him to do. He was a man who had a greater plan. He was a man with faith, and it’s important for us to understand that, like Coach Robinson, we must trust God’s plan, even when that plan seems not to be working.”

Shortly later, Johnson recalled former GSU quarterback Doug Williams, who was not only the first Black quarterback to start in a Super Bowl but also the first to win MVP honors in that annual NFL championship game.

“You had a man on this campus named Doug Williams, and he is Black history,” Johnson said. “And the reason he’s Black history is because he was the first Black quarterback to win a Super Bowl.

“I will tell you that you never know who’s sitting next to you. You may have the next scientist who learns and figures out how to cure cancer. You may have the next president of the United States next to you. You don’t know who’s sitting next to you because you’re on a historical campus called Grambling State University, where everybody’s proud to be a Tiger.”

Johnson said that Williams won a Super Bowl back in a time when racism was real.

“Well let me just say, it’s still real today,” Johnson said. “As long as you’re Black you’re going to have people jealous of you. You’re going to have people that hate on you for no reason. But you have to understand that as long as God has called you and equipped you, you can do what the prophet Jay-Z said. And he said, ‘I may have 99 problems, but a hater ain’t one of them.’”

As he continued, Johnson went on to mention journalist Harris Faulkner and singer/songwriter Erykah Badu, who both attended Grambling before going on to make their own indelible marks on the world.

Johnson told the crowd they have to have hope — the kind of hope Grambling graduate and basketball legend Willis Reed had as he led the New York Knicks to a Game 7 win over the Los Angeles Lakers to win the 1970 NBA championship.

“Willis Reed was an NBA Hall of Famer who had hope (while) playing through pain and injury in one of the most famous basketball games in history,” Johnson said. “What I’m telling you is that in life, you’re going to be let down. In life you’re going to face pain. In life, you’re going to cry.

“In life, you’re going to want to throw in the towel. In life, you’re going to want to quit. In life, some of your oldest friends are going to get on your nerves. In life, your family just may be your problem. In life, your professors may not be your favorite teachers. In life, you’re going to have all kinds of difficulties. But you have to know just one thing — you have to keep going. And not only do you have to keep going.”

Johnson said people have to keep going because of the legacies left to them by God.

“God has called you to a legacy of excellence, a legacy of faith, a legacy of perseverance, a legacy of hope and a legacy of leadership,” Johnson said. “You must understand that you just can’t read Black history, you all have to make some Black history.”

GSU Miss Cover Girl 2024 Brooke Steward served as Mistress of Ceremonies for the  “Honoring Our Legacy: Inspiring Future Generations” Black History Program, which also featured Jhikiyah Jackson singing “Lift Every Voice,” Tylen Davis presenting the opening prayer, a song performed by Amari Gatewood-Peterson accompanied by Dr. Daniel Huey on piano, a welcome address by Student Government Association President Morgan Patton, an original spoken word piece by Austin Small, a performance by the Orchesis Dance Company, Miss Grambling State University Jess’lynn Sanders introducing Johnson and a performance by Grammy Nominated Gospel singer Carolyn Traylor.