By Yolanda Putman

Young people seek an education to provide for and protect their families, but few aspire to use their education to advance the African-American community, said Johnny Holloway.  The local civil rights leader wants to reactivate the Push Excel program in Chattanooga to instill in youth the need to advance the race.

“Providing for the family is what education is supposed to do,” said Holloway, “But for black people, it’s also supposed to educate you to do something for the group.”

PUSH (People United to Save Humanity) Excelwas a program that promoted education and it taught youth the importance of using their talents and skills to help their community.

Holloway spoke at the ”Gateway To Freedom” Exhibit opening on January 20 -Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.  The “Gateway to Freedom” Exhibit is currently housed at the Chattanooga African American Education and Heritage Museum and will be on display throughout the month of February 2025.

Alton Park Development Corporation President Dr. Elenora Woods led a short tour of the site, now called the Chattanooga Convention Center at Mountainside.

“Take a browse through our African American history at the museum,” she said. “We have a model slave ship with a list of all the ships that sold slaves from Africa to America.”

Model slave ships, pictures of African Kings and Queens, black inventors and depictions of black civil war soldiers are among the exhibits at the museum.

Holloway spoke about reviving PUSH Excel after attending Nation of Islam Leader Kevin Muhammad’s Youth Rally earlier this month  where Holloway heard college students speak about how they planned to use their education. Holloway said students at the rally meant well. They talked about providing for and protecting their families and achieving their success,  but not many of them spoke of plans to help the community.

“They are individuals,” said Holloway. “They are good individuals, but they have no knowledge of group.”

Holloway said PUSH Excel can promote education and instill in youth to consider working for the good of their community.

The Rev. Jesse Jackson started PUSH Excel in 1975. It was established across the country as part of his broader efforts with the organization Operation PUSH (now Rainbow PUSH Coalition) to encourage educational achievement and inspire young people to excel academically, socially, and morally. The goal locally was to create a community-wide effort to educate youth. The initiative called for churches, businesses, the media, parents, teachers and students to make a commitment to improve education. Locally some churches and businesses provided scholarships, mentoring or  tutoring to students. The media highlighted program achievements, parents committed to visiting the school and students committed to studying for two hours a night. The program focused everyone’s attention on education and student scores improved.

 Holloway and the Rev. H.H. Wright helped the program secure an annual budget of $300,000 in the late 1970’s to operate in 10 schools for three years. It was effective until the  Rev. Jackson twice ran for president and led in votes in Hamilton County and Chattanooga during both elections. Then funders for the program started withdrawing funds, said Holloway. The program operated for a total of about six years..

African American History Curator and Chattanooga News Chronicle Publisher John Edwards recognizes that there aren’t many local civil rights leaders from the 1960’s and he wants those who are alive to know that they are appreciated.

“He was the head of Chattanooga PUSH EXCEL program,” said Edwards. “He was a leader and he spent a lot of time with the Rev. Jesse Jackson. So, before he’s gone, I’d like to hear him talk about that time and the things he accomplished.”

Holloway fought for the rights of minority workers at Erlanger, Hamilton County School teachers, and at other businesses and organizations throughout the city.

At age 88 a slower stride keeps Holloway from marching and protesting for poor and oppressed people as he did in the past. He said his latest focus is on sharing his knowledge in hopes that it may inspire others

“What are we going to do beyond ourselves?” was the school motto when Holloway graduated from Howard High School in 1955. His hope is to put that motto in the hearts and minds of youth today.

“That was our whole goal. Be successful, but also advance your race,” said Holloway. “We have lost that and we’ve got to find it back again.”