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.
Philesha Carol Johnson is a multifaceted woman, embodying roles as a mother, writer, and advocate for transformation and triumph through self-discovery, particularly within the context of African American identity and the Pan African diaspora. As a human services professional and a United States Air Force Veteran, Carol boasts over two decades of dedicated research, speaking engagements, and written contributions to expressive arts. Her academic achievements include a Master’s Degree in Human Relations, where she was honored with a Summa Cum Laude distinction from the University of Oklahoma, and a Bachelor of Arts in English and Literature from Southern New Hampshire University. She pursued further academic endeavors as a Doctoral Candidate in Adult Learning at the University of Connecticut.
Having traversed diverse terrains, both geographically and intellectually, Carol's journey has seen her training peer airmen across Europe and the Middle East, delving into the complexities of adult learning, and uncovering the vulnerabilities shared by her clients. Fluent in Spanish, she has embraced the richness of cultural exchange and linguistic diversity.
Carol's affinity for expressive arts traces back to her earliest memories, when she took the stage before Kwanzaa audiences at the tender age of five, laying the foundation for a lifelong passion. Today, she resides and operates from her home base in Connecticut, balancing her professional pursuits with the joys and responsibilities of being a devoted football mom to her two sons. The publication of her poetry collection stands as a testament to her relentless commitment to realizing her dreams and sharing her creative voice with the world.
