Surviving Deep Waters

A Legendary Reporter's Story of Overcoming Poverty, Race, Violence, and His Mother's Deepest Secret

By: Bruce Johnson

Narrated by: Bruce Johnson

Length: 7 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's summary

When you have nothing to lose, you can risk everything.

There was no reason to bet on Bruce Johnson, given where he started out. Poor, Black, and raised by a single mother who had a secret. He was the child she hid in plain view from the rest of her family.

Bruce would spend his youth at Chickasaw Park in Louisville - Kentucky’s segregated west end. He would grab the low-hanging tree branches, then swing out over the Ohio River before dropping into the dangerous water below. He didn’t know how to swim, but was fearless and knew to paddle quickly back to shore before the current could drag him under. This tenacity served him well, and he learned to be a risk-taker early on.

As an adult, he set out to just make a living - to do better than Black folks who tried their best before, while making his Momma and Grandmomma proud. His journey to becoming a successful TV journalist nearly killed him, but he refused to treat himself as a victim. His role was to use his voice and example to pull others out of deep waters.

The rollout for his retirement was unprecedented - weeklong on-air tributes and hourlong online tributes from corporate CEOs, former colleagues, congressmembers, the mayor, and the governor. After a near 45-year career, all was deserved and expected, except for a final tribute - seeing his image secretly painted on the Wall of Fame outside the iconic Ben’s Chili Bowl restaurant alongside Barack and Michelle Obama, Oprah, and Dave Chappelle. No one could have imagined such an ending. Or could they? Bruce Johnson’s journey is the culmination of his mother and grandmother’s stories - the ultimate American story of race, opportunity, and perseverance.

©2022 Bruce Johnson (P)2022 Recorded Books

A hard working reporter digs deep to tell the story of his life and his views on race

I know TV News reporter Bruce Johnson working with him and competing against him in the Nation’s Capital for decades. I can confirm the truth of much of what he reports about the stories he covered and uncovered. But it wasn’t until listening to his reading of this book that I learned many things I didn’t know or even suspect. He shares painful truths about his personal journey up from poverty, the obstacles he faced as a young black man, the pain of not having a father in his life, his time in the seminary, his anger learning about pedophile priests, his relationship with DC “Mayor for Life” Marion Berry, his views on BLM, “defunding “ police, protests, the way corporations run newsrooms and his view of the future for minorities. I believe this book elevates Bruce Johnson to the pantheon of the TV greats who he counted as friends including Oprah, Gayle King, Ed Bradley, Max Robinson and Jim Vance. I suggest you would be wrong to discount my 5 star rating of this book figuring I am a former colleague and friend. Listen to Bruce tell his story or read it and judge for yourself.
Chris Gordon reporter & lawyer.

The exclusive to beat all exclusives!

A rare look behind the curtain of the people and issues inside the beltway. Bruce Johnson is more than a journalist — he’s one of the most important storytellers of his generation, giving context to modern day history. It was a privilege to hear his memoir in his own voice.

awesome listen

really enjoyed the book. reccomend highly. should be on the number 1 best seller list

Captivating story of personal and professional perseverance

An incredibly honest account of this well-known DC journalist’s journey from poverty to popularity as a top reporter in the nation’s capital. Civil rights, the importance of true journalism, overcoming illness, racism, addiction and loss - it all in this inspiring book!

Well worth it!!

I couldn’t stop listening to Bruce. I read a lot of biographies. This is one bio that you will finish and know more about the author than you started. Bruce’s stories are so interesting and incredible. I am from the DMV and am amazed to be able to reflect on various events the Bruce covered. The chapter on “crack” took me back to living and working in DC during that time. I wished this book wouldn’t end. I need more Bruce, write another book please.

Loved it!

Hard to put this book down! It was like having a conversation with Bruce. Growning up in Louisville I could relate to all of the places and times referenced in the book. GREAT JOB!

Wake up call

Eyeopening, an inside look at racism in the newsroom. As I reflect in my experiences with TV news, it affirmed my beliefs and thoughts. We need this conversation to continue in communities everywhere.