Dinah Johnson (bornDianne Johnson, August 6, 1960),[1] also known asDianne Johnson-Feelings, is an author and professor of English. She has written books on the history of Blackchildren's literature, and is most notable for her own children's books, which focus onAfrican-American culture and her home state ofSouth Carolina.
Johnson was born inCharleston[1] and graduated fromSpring Valley High School inColumbia, South Carolina. She earned her undergraduate degree in English and creative writing fromPrinceton University and master's and doctoral degrees fromYale University, in Afro-American Studies and American Studies, respectively.[2]
Johnson's first published book was calledTelling Tales: The Pedagogy and Promise of African American Literature for Youth and was published in 1990 byGreenwood Press. In it, Johnson writes about the history of children's literature aimed at young Black readers, as well as Black authors.[1] A review for theAfrican American Review called it "a much needed resource for children's literature".[3] Her book was also considered for several years as "the only book-length critical study of early black children's literature".[4] She also editedThe Best of The Brownies' Book, an anthology published in 1996 with texts fromThe Brownies' Book, a 1920s magazine aimed at African-American children.[5] While critics commented some children might enjoy reading it, they noted it was "a major contribution to the field of children's literature."[6]
Johnson's children's books have been generally praised by critics.[1]Quinnie Blue,[7] published in 2000, was featured in aTime Magazine list as one of the year's best books,[8] as well as in theBlack Caucus of the American Library Association's top 20 books.[9] Her 2022 book,H is For Harlem, receivedstarred reviews from several publications, and was praised for its historical representation of theHarlem and some of its monuments and notable people.[10]
She currently works as a professor of English at theUniversity of South Carolina.[2][11][12]
Johnson was the second wife of illustratorTom Feelings,[13] with whom she had a daughter.[14]