HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 91-4665, by Representatives Wineberry, Ebersole, Ballard, Hine, O'Brien, Franklin, Jacobsen, Appelwick, Wood, R. Fishers, Locke, Anderson, Valle, Brekke, Nelson, Heavey, Phillips, H. Sommers, Leonard, Scott and Prentice

     WHEREAS, Professor Charles R. Johnson has taught at the University of Washington for fourteen years and has directed the creative writing program for the past three years; and

     WHEREAS, Washington has honored Professor Johnson's work twice before with the 1983 and 1989 Governor's Award for Literature; and

     WHEREAS, The University of Washington recently named Professor Johnson the Pollock Professor for English, an appointment usually reserved for visiting professors; and

     WHEREAS, Professor Johnson's third novel, The Middle Passage, won the 1990 National Book Award for fiction, and has been described as "heroic in proportion" and as "an emancipation proclamation for black writers"; and

     WHEREAS, Professor Johnson is the fourth African-American writer to receive the award in its forty-year history, joining the ranks of Ralph Ellison, Gloria Naylor, and Alice Walker; and

 WHEREAS, Professor Johnson's other works include:  Two novels, Faith and the Good Thing and Oxherding Tale; a volume of short stories, The Sorcerer's Apprentice; a critical study of black writers, Being and Race; and film and television scripts; and

      WHEREAS, Professor Johnson is prized and respected at the University of Washington as an effective and committed teacher as well as a writer;

      NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the State of Washington recognize Professor Charles R. Johnson for the honor and distinction he has brought to himself, the University of Washington, and to the state of Washington; and

      BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives salute the unique literary style that has earned Professor Johnson his many honors; and

      BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives to Professor Johnson and to University of Washington President William P. Gerberding.

     I hereby certify this to be a true and correct copy of

     Resolution 4665 adopted by the House of Representatives

                         April 10, 1991.

                 ________________________________

       Alan Thompson, Chief Clerk, House of Representatives