Jocelyn Nicole Johnson

Jocelyn Nicole Johnson's critically acclaimed debut collection, 'My Monticello,' explores the intersection of home, identity, and racial injustice through a diverse set of narratives centered on Black and Brown characters in Charlottesville, Virginia. The work, which includes a novella and short stories, examines themes of belonging, longing, and dislocation, drawing inspiration from real-life incidents such as the 2015 altercation with Martese Johnson and the 2017 white nationalist rally. Johnson's approach blends personal reflection, social commentary, and pop culture references to illuminate the challenges faced by marginalized communities in the Appalachian South. The collection, awarded the 2021 Weatherford Award for Fiction, is being adapted into a Netflix film.

Ductan, M. (2022). Jocelyn Nicole Johnson. Appalachian Review, 50(2), 45–52. https://doi.org/10.1353/aph.2022.0034