Dr. Johnson is a native of Belle Glade, Florida--a small town affectionately known by many as “the muck.” The muck refers to the dark soil that is so rich in minerals that a farmer could plant any crop to later spring up in weeks--and sugarcane is the main crop of plenty. More importantly, Belle Glade is a small town of approximately 20,000 with much of the population of African-American or LatinX descent, where the median income of an individual is $16,000 and household is $25,000. Johnson’s story is one of loss, abandonment, and healing. He recounts the death of his mother (the matriarch) as the pivotal moment in his life that awakened in him a sense of urgency to one day serve others; that reality is upended by a series of misfortunes. However, Johnson overcomes his struggles and disappointments by clinging to his faith, music, and therapy, which ultimately makes him whole.