author
A. E. (Amelia E.) Johnson
b. 1859
A pioneering Black writer and editor, she helped open doors in 19th-century literature while writing fiction for both adults and young readers. Her work is remembered for its warmth, moral clarity, and place in early African American print culture.
1 Audiobook
The Hazeley Family
by A. E. (Amelia E.) Johnson
About the author
Born in Toronto in 1858 and later active in the United States, Amelia E. Johnson wrote under the name Mrs. A. E. Johnson. She is known as a novelist, poet, and editor, and her career connected Canadian and African American literary history.
Johnson published fiction at a time when very few Black women had access to mainstream religious and literary publishers. She is especially noted for Clarence and Corinne; or, God's Way, and for editing and publishing magazines for children, including Joy, a monthly periodical for African American young readers.
Beyond her books, her importance lies in the literary community she helped build. As an editor and writer, she supported Black authors and created spaces for young readers, leaving a legacy that reaches beyond her own titles.