Tallahassee, Fla. – Stanley Johnson, an alumnus of Florida A&M University’s (FAMU) School of Journalism & Graphic Communication (SJGC) and visiting instructor, is shining a light on the beauty, resilience, and power of Black women in his new book, Beautiful, I Am! This stunning collection of portraits and personal narratives from 98 Black women celebrates their womanhood, challenges existing perceptions, and honors their experiences.

Johnson, an award-winning photographer and educator, has spent his career capturing images that are significant and relevant to his audiences. His latest work reflects his deep commitment to representation, ensuring that Black women, a group traditionally underappreciated and marginalized, are represented with dignity, authenticity, and pride.

“It’s a love letter to Black women. This album of photographs captures the light and essence that shines through their eyes,” said Johnson. “This truth is illuminated in their words, and I created this book to hopefully be a source of inspiration, pride, and joy.”

While completing this latest work, Johnson has been somewhat behind the scenes, inspiring the next generation of storytellers at FAMU SJGC. In 2023, he was one of the faculty members who mentored students and helped them develop UFXFAMU 1963: Reporting from the U.S. Civil Rights Trail. The award-winning project, a collaboration between FAMU and the University of Florida (UF), retraced pivotal sites of the Civil Rights Movement and provided students with an experiential learning opportunity to document the history and connect with the past.

“Johnson’s book is a powerful and necessary tribute to the beauty and strength of Black women,” said FAMU SJGC Dean Mira Lowe. “His work reinforces the importance of authentic storytelling and is an example to our students of the magnitude of sharing culturally significant, positive narratives.”

In addition to serving as an instructor at FAMU, Johnson is also a celebrated photographer, fine artist, and graphic designer. He became interested in photography while in high school after receiving a camera from his father. He later perfected his photography skills while a student in the graphic communications program at FAMU SJGC.

Johnson’s career also includes serving as a communications specialist in the United States Marine Corps (USMC); however, he did not pursue photography as a legitimate career option until his images were used in marketing collateral for an adoption agency.

Johnson, a 1997 FAMU SJGC alumnus, also earned a Master of Arts degree from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, California. In 2019, he was the second-place recipient of the Academy of Art International Spring Showcase. Johnson’s work is available to view and purchase online.

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