HEARD Tribute to Elder + Ancestor William Ray Johanson, Angola, Louisiana

Here is the note HEARD shared along with this tribute:

HEARD is heartbroken to share that in February, our community lost [Elder] William Johanson, sign name (W on elbow), a Deaf incarcerated elder, advocate, artist, and dog trainer.

For more than 50 years of incarceration, William fought for communication access for deaf/disabled people in Louisiana prisons. He trained service dogs using ASL through the PAWS program, mentored many incarcerated people in learning ASL, and shared his creativity through painting and woodworking. His resilience and kindness left a lasting impact on everyone who knew him.

We are honored to have known William for more than a decade through letters and videophone calls. This video celebrates his life, his legacy, and the many lives he touched. We will miss William deeply.
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The full tribute video can be watched at the YouTube link. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUTDtm33GXc)

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My personal tribute begins around 2:19; and a rough English transcript and video description of my signed offering is below: 

Video Description:

Talila A. Lewis, a Black person with dark brown skin wearing white see through striped crochet long sleeve shirt, a navy gaucho style hat with white fabric wrapped around it with red fabric written words “free human” on one side of the hat. Lewis has red and brown scarves as head coverings under the hat, and 3 layers of short and long black and silver necklaces, colorful bracelets and small hoop earrings with white cowrie shells. Lewis is sitting in a chair in front of the camera. A big window is behind Lewis which shows trees, the sunset and other buildings on one side, and a plain white wall and vertical light switches in the upper corner. Lewis is using ASL. 

Rough English Transcript:

Hello everyone, 

*takes a deep breath*

I have the honor and responsibility of sharing a little bit about one of our Elders, now an Ancestor, named William Ray Johanson, who survived 55-56 years of horrific incarceration. 

He was incarcerated in the Deep South of the “U.S.A,” the state of Louisiana, in a place called Angola. That place is now a maximum security prison, but it was previously a plantation of enslaved people with the same name. *shakes head deep disappointment/disgust*

I can share a lot of information. I have tried to advocate for his freedom since 2014 together with my community of volunteers named, HEARD. Now, HEARD is a nonprofit organization, but it used to be an all-volunteer nonprofit organization. 

I want to emphasize that I believe he was innocent of what the government accused him of. I want to emphasize that. The same is true with many many many people in the U.S. “prison” system – that includes the jail system, psychiatric institution, and more. They are innocent. That’s important, yes; but I want to emphasize also what really moves me about his life, the lessons he taught. 

He taught me personally how to really endure-–to never allow “powerful” systems, governments, or people to take your humanity, your dignity, your joy, your love, your spirit. That is an invaluable lesson he taught me personally. I looked at him with reverence: they never broke his spirit. 

I feel like the signs and words, “prison,” “jail,” “penitentiary,” “psychiatric ward,” “*demonstrates signs*,” don’t really convey how terribly horrific these places are. 

What an honor to witness him, his journey; and be part of his team, his community, his family. What an honor. His dog is now with other people who [William] considers his family in prison. And I pray he can truly REST, really rest. Not have so much stress, violence, heaviness. 

It’s very sad that we were not able to “formally” free him. *wipes tear away* AND, what a gift for me to see the generation after me continue that struggle. What an honor. *wipes tear away* 

I want to thank everyone who tried to support him, those who sent letters, loved on him, called him on relay/TTY/videophone, etc. for so many years--fighting for his freedom. Thank you all for your service. It’s important. It’s important.

Thank you.