Ollie Johnson

Ollie Johnson is the Chair and Professor of the Department of African American Studies at Wayne State University. His research focuses on Black political experiences in the Americas, with a specialization in Afro-Brazilian and Afro-Latin American politics. He holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from UC Berkeley (1993), and has authored/co-authored influential books such as Comparative Racial Politics in Latin America (2019) and Race, Politics, and Education in Brazil (2015).

Education History:

• Ph.D. in Political Science, UC Berkeley, 1993
• M.A. in Political Science, UC Berkeley, 1987
• M.A. in Brazilian Studies, Brown University, 1986
• B.A. in Afro-American Studies & International Relations, Brown University, 1984

Research Interests: Johnson examines Black political mobilization, racial equity policies, and the intersection of race and power in Latin America. His work highlights figures like Abdias Nascimento and analyzes affirmative action programs in Brazil. He also teaches courses on Pan-Africanism and Black political thought.

Teaching: Courses include AFS2210 (Black Social and Political Thought), AFS3420 (Pan Africanism), and PS3820 (Pan Africanism: Politics of the Black Diaspora).