Anecia Johnson – Fulfilling a Destiny to Share African History

I’m feeling very on-purpose,” says Anecia Johnson. “I’m excited that what I’m doing is really needed. It feels like part of a divine destiny.”

Anecia’s passions have taken the shape of Amma Culture, a resource for educators, families and children to learn about the incalculable contributions of Africans to the world throughout the centuries. Amma Culture especially uses the arts and history to introduce the North State to the rich ancient history of the African Diaspora—people of African heritage dispersed throughout the world.

NSP sat down to hear more about the woman behind this change-making organization. Read Anecia’s thoughts here, then head over to ammaculture.org to learn more!

NSP: Amma Culture is a big part of your life, since it rises out of your professional and personal passions. But outside of Amma Culture, what refreshes you?

Anecia: I enjoy walking and being in nature. I love music; my favorite genre is 60s/70s R&B. I’ve also been trained in a variety of energy healing modalities, including Reiki and Johrei, Japanese forms of energy healing for balancing the mind, body and spirit. I also enjoy time with my grandchildren, and I have a community of young families with children I consider my grandchildren as well. I love getting to come along and be the special one in their lives.

NSP: What inspires you?

Anecia: My personal history is my inspiration. I was born in Chico in 1961, into this community where Black people have traditionally been 2% or less of the population. My mom and my aunt were often involved in local civil rights activities. Lizzie Scott, my mother’s elder sister, founded The People That Care center in the 70s. The center provided services to anyone in need, particularly unwed mothers. I didn’t realize it until much later in life, but because there are so few of us, being born Black in this community basically means being born an activist; you have to constantly advocate for yourself and others. As my eyes have opened more to being of African descent, I have pursued cultural experiences that reflect my cultural heritage.

NSP: How would you define success?

Anecia: I would define success as being involved in a community working together toward living out a divine purpose. I think everyone has the potential to live an on-purpose life, where you understand why you have gone through everything on your life journey and you have the opportunity to give back to the world, to humanity, to your community.

NSP: Do you have any New Year’s resolutions?

Anecia: My bachelor’s degree was in international business, but my claim to fame is I’ve never left the continent, so I’m ready to do some traveling! I’ve always wanted to see the African Diaspora—particularly Africa; the Caribbean Islands; and North, Central and South America—and I plan to manifest my dream to see more of the world in the next year.

NSP: That’s exciting! How do you think traveling will impact you?

Anecia: It’s funny; I’ve always seen myself as a global citizen, even from when I was a young child without any real exposure to international studies. I still think about myself within the context of the world every day. I’ve now been exposed to people from all over the world. I’ve learned exposure to other cultures helps us understand humanity—the oneness of humanity, the common desires and passions of all human beings. I want to provide that for myself, as well as encourage others to travel and seek that global perspective too.

NSP: What else are you looking forward to in the new year?

Anecia: I’ll be 60 in February, and I’m excited about having the role of elder in the community and connecting with other people of all ages and backgrounds. I think it’s important to include elder wisdom, seeking out the elder wisdom in every community.

NSP: Do you have a piece of wisdom the North State could especially benefit from right now?

Anecia: One thing I’ve learned in being exposed to world and indigenous cultures is that our modern society doesn’t have rites of passage to let us know, “You’ve left childhood now; take on this role,” or “You’re an elder now; take on that role.” We have to be intentional about creating true community. Just being in a neighborhood or work environment doesn’t necessarily create that. That’s part of what Amma Culture is about—creating opportunities in the North State to connect people of all backgrounds in community.

Visit Amma Culture’s website or Facebook page.