Nationwide — Renowned social scientist and community leader Dr. Jeffery M. Johnson announces the release of his historical memoir, Roots of Resilience: My Tooson Family Story, a deeply researched chronicle of an African American family’s journey from enslavement to modern-day legacy.
Available on Amazon and through the National Partnership for Community Leadership (NPCL), the book expands traditional genealogy with oral histories, primary documents, and family records that illuminate the Tooson family story.
Roots of Resilience traces the Tooson lineage, beginning with Berry Tooson and Jane Jack Isreal. Born in 1842 and 1853, respectively, Berry and Jane navigated the transition from enslavement to emancipation and established their family in Havana, Hale County, Alabama.
Dr. Johnson’s narrative does not shy away from the nation’s most painful chapters. Through figures such as Sallie Tooson (1810–c. 1885–1890), the book examines the post-Reconstruction era, Jim Crow, and the long-lasting effects of systemic disenfranchisement—while tracing how later generations transformed hardship into achievement.
For many African Americans, tracing family lineage is an act of reclamation. Systems of enslavement and economic subjugation fractured families and obscured identities; preserving oral histories and documentation helps ensure that these stories—and the communities they built—are not lost to time.
Dr. Johnson brings decades of sociological and community leadership experience to this personal project. As President and CEO of the National Partnership for Community Leadership (NPCL), he works to strengthen community-based agencies that serve low-income parents and youth. He has organized international fatherhood conferences since 1997 and is the author of Your Journey to Co-Parenting and Cornerstones of Responsible Fatherhood.
Dr. Johnson will also share insights from his recent books, Roots of Resilience: My Tooson Family Story and From Endangered to Empowered, at the 28th Annual International Father and Family Practitioners Conference, June 8–10, 2026, in Washington, D.C. The conference theme is “Empowering the Path Forward: Research, Policy, and Practice.”
In Roots of Resilience, Dr. Johnson connects his commitment to strengthening today’s families with the ancestral endurance of the Tooson line. “This book is a living testament to African American heritage,” he writes, offering lessons on unity, cultural preservation, and land ownership—and a roadmap for families seeking to document and validate their historical presence in the United States.
Roots of Resilience: My Tooson Family Story (ISBN: 9798349290541) is recommended for educators, historians, genealogists, community organizations, and readers interested in African American history and family legacy.
It’s available on Amazon and through the NPCL online store, as well as major book retailers and academic distributors.
For conference registration and additional resources, visit www.npclfathersandfamilies.org or call 202-600-7817.
About the Author
Dr. Jeffery M. Johnson is a social scientist and community leader whose work focuses on strengthening families and advancing community-based solutions. He is the author of Roots of Resilience: My Tooson Family Story, From Endangered to Empowered, Your Journey to Co-Parenting, and Cornerstones of Responsible Fatherhood.
About the National Partnership for Community Leadership (NPCL)
NPCL works to strengthen the capacity of community-based agencies and leaders to better serve low-income parents, youth, and families through training, technical assistance, and convenings.
Media Inquiries: For interview requests, review copies, or speaking engagements with Dr. Jeffery M. Johnson, contact the National Partnership for Community Leadership (NPCL), 1629 K Street, NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20006. Phone: 202-600-7817