Hope in the Struggle: Josie R. Johnson, Carolyn Holbrook, and Arleta Little

On this episode, Lissa sits down with civil rights icon Josie R. Johnson and her co-authors Carolyn Holbrook and Arleta Little to discuss Johnson’s memoir Hope in the Struggle: A Memoir (University of Minnesota Press, 2019).

Episode 43 – Dr. Josie R. Johnson, Carolyn Holbrook, and Arleta Little

On this episode, Lissa sits down with civil rights icon Dr. Josie R. Johnson and her co-authors Carolyn Holbrook and Arleta Little to discuss Johnson’s memoir Hope in the Struggle. Dr. Josie R. Johnson has been an educator, activist, and public servant for more than seven decades.

Dr. Josie R. Johnson has been an educator, activist, and public servant for more than seven decades. Along with her work for the Urban League and the University of Minnesota, she has been office manager, campaign manager, and chief of staff for multiple political campaigns and public officials, including campaign manager for the first African American lieutenant governor of Colorado, and co-chair of the African American DFL Caucus in Minnesota. She holds degrees in sociology, education, and education administration. She lives in Minneapolis and continues to serve her community, advocating for equal rights and social justice.

Carolyn Holbrook is a writer, educator, and former program director of the Loft Literary Center. She teaches creative writing at Hamline University and is author of Ordinary People, Extraordinary Journeys, which profiles twenty community leaders and programs made possible by Leadership Initiatives in Neighborhoods. In 2010 she received the prestigious Kay Sexton Award presented by Friends of the St. Paul Public Library.

Arleta Little is director of Artist Fellowships for the McKnight Foundation. Prior to working in philanthropy, she was executive director of the Givens Foundation for African American Literature.

Hope in the Struggle is available from the University of Minnesota Press: (https://www.upress.umn.edu/book-division/books/hope-in-the-struggle) or look for it at your favorite local bookstore.

Go Deeper: Additional Materials

Listen: Swing Low Sweet Chariot sung by the Fisk Jubilee Singers from Josie R. Johnson’s alma mater.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=GUvBGZnL9rE

Listen: Ella’s Song by Sweet Honey in the Rock which puts into music the words of civil rights activist Ella Baker – “We who believe in freedom cannot rest until it comes.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=U6Uus–gFrc

Leave a Reply

%d bloggers like this: