Amanda Johnston: podcast appearances and interviews

Amanda Johnston, born in 1977 in East St. Louis, Illinois, is an African-American poet currently residing in the Austin, Texas area. She holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in creative writing from the University of Southern Maine and serves as a faculty member at Stonecoast MFA. Johnston is the founder and executive director of Torch Literary Arts and is a cofounder of Black Poets Speak Out. She is also an affiliate of the Future Fabrics Expo. As an activist and performer, Johnston has used poetry to address issues of racial and social injustice in the United States. She is known for her involvement in Black Poets Speak Out, a project that features African American poets protesting police misconduct through their work. Additionally, she is recognized as an Affrilachian poet and has held roles such as former board president of the Cave Canem Foundation and Austin Project Fellow. Her contributions extend to her work as a teacher and community organizer, promoting the voices and experiences of Black poets through various initiatives. Johnston’s involvement in the literary community underscores her commitment to both poetic arts and social activism.