Today we’d like to introduce you to King Arthur.
Hi King, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I grew up on the Westside of Detroit (Joy Rd), in a two-parent household with 2 older brothers and sister. Since a child, I’ve had an angelic spirit filled with many talents and began singing and performing around the city with my late father Napoleon Johnson Sr. Performing on stage in front of hundreds of people at an early age made me want to pursue my dream of becoming an entertainer, which lead me to the top performing arts high school, Detroit School of Arts where I graduated from in 2010.
A year later after graduating high school I was shot 8 times and paralyzed from the waist down. I was told I would never be able to walk again, I’ll be in diapers for the rest of my life, and that I wasn’t supposed to survive. After 3 and a half years of therapy, I went from a wheelchair to a walker. A walker to two canes. From two canes to being able to walk without any assistance. Would you believe me if I told you getting shot 8 times was the easy part? Being only 19 years old when I was shot and paralyzed, mentally this tragedy was catastrophic. However, having gone through this life tragedy was the catalyst of my mental strength. You see, we all have this deep reservoir of strength within us but not everyone knows how to tap into it.
I then went on doing motivational speaking telling my story to the youth with the intent to prevent them from going down the path I went. Becoming a motivational speaker inspired me to work more direct and hands-on with the youth so I began working with outside school programs in 2014. I was given the pleasure to work with The Future Project and the HALA Program as an apprentice and instructor before creating my own program where I now teach Photography & chess to the youth.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Some of the struggles along my journey that I’ve faces has been as I stated before getting shot 8 times and being paralyzed from the waist down & told I’ll never be able to walk again, all at the age of 19 years old. But nothing compares to me becoming a father and losing my father in the same weekend. My daughter Melody Skyy Johnson wasn’t due until November 28, 2015 but unexpectedly she came early. On November 5, 2015, my father was scheduled to have knee surgery but what we didn’t know was that my daughter would be born at the same time. 3 days later on November 8, 2015, my father passed away without even meeting my daughter.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I run an LLC title Native Creative Minds as a freelance photographer and videographer. In 2018 I graduated from Specs Howards School of Media Arts as a Digital Media Artist and began taking clients building my portfolio. However, what I specialize in is singing. It’s been my passion since a child and something that I carry on with me as a way to honor my late father Napoleon Johnson Sr. Singing has always and still is my favorite thing to do! What people know me most for outside of my skill set is my accomplishment of learning how to walk again and becoming a better man than the boy I was. Beside becoming a father to my daughter (Melody Skyy Johnson) and my son (Artist Napoleon Johnson), I am most proud of how I responded to my life adversities. What sets me apart from others is that I don’t make excuses, I just make it happen!
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
What I love most about my city (Detroit) is the amount of talent that has come from the city and still so much more undiscovered talent. We have our own aura, style, and language that’s distinguished from any other city. What I dislike most about my city (Detroit) is the mindset! I’d love to see my city (Detroit) operate as a collectives instead of working against one another, taking the life of others for personal gain.
Contact Info:
- Email: arthurjohnson1105@gmail.com
- Website: https://linktr.ee/CallMeArtist
- Instagram: @___kingarthur
- Facebook: Arthur L. Johnson
- Youtube: Native Creative Minds
