Philesha Carol Johnson is a poet, writer, educator, and activist based in Connecticut.
O’ Africa, a debut poetry collection portrays the author’s emotional connection to her ancestors in Africa and its diaspora. O’ Africa takes the reader on an epic journey through nine generations of the cast of characters in the James family through prose, narrative, and semi-autobiographical poetry capturing years 1815 to 2023. James family history dates back to Ervin James born in 1815 during slavery who later founded Jamestown, SC in 1872 overcoming reliance on sharecropping. O’ Africa opens a window into the lived experiences of matriarchs Mary Chizzie James and Carol Denise Johnson. M. Chizzie James, granddaughter of Ervin James, was a humble baker born and raised during Reconstruction. Carol Denise Johnson, granddaughter of Chizzie James was a contemporary woman set apart from her peers early in life as a family and community leader, philanthropist, and unsurpassed businesswoman.
The poetry in O’ Africa becomes a time machine, transporting readers to pivotal moments, inviting reflection, and honoring the resilience of generations.
African American communities in South Carolina will find a deep resonance with the family history, cultural context, and shared experiences depicted in the book. Beyond its cultural significance, O’ Africa doubles as an ESL resource for English learners who will engage with the prose, poetry and narratives to enhance their language proficiency. By exploring African American history and culture, ESL readers gain insights into idiomatic expressions, cultural nuances, and historical references, as exposure to authentic writing by African American authors enriches language learning. The collection’s release in Spanish and French will further enhance its utility in ESL. O’ Africa also serves as a creative writing guide, contributing style and craft to aspiring writers—whether African American or not—to learn from the author’s use of different forms (prose, poetry, and narrative) and the transformative power of storytelling. The collection offers examples of how to weave personal stories, historical events, and family legends into compelling narratives. Writers seeking inspiration can draw from the resilience, triumphs, and struggles depicted in the James family saga.