Let's make this birthday one to remember.

77 years old (Born on April 23, 1948)

Happy Birthday, Charles R. Johnson! May your day be as captivating and profound as "Middle Passage," yet filled with more joy than the pages of "The Joy of Being Buddhist." Your words have enlightened minds, sparked laughter, and inspired countless readers—truly a literary superhero in scholarly disguise.

From exploring dreams to amplifying powerful voices in "Black Men Speaking," you've brilliantly captured life's complexities while reminding us all not to take ourselves too seriously. Here's wishing you another year full of wisdom, humor, creativity—and perhaps fewer existential crises for your characters!

Cheers to many more chapters ahead!