Amber O'Neal Johnston

Amber O'Neal Johnston is an American homeschooling advocate, author, and speaker known for her work in promoting inclusive, culturally-rich education, particularly for Black families. She is the founder of Heritage Homeschoolers, a community in the Atlanta area for families of Black children, and the author of A Place to Belong: Celebrating Diversity and Kinship in the Home and Beyond and Soul School: Taking Kids on a Joy-Filled Journey Through the Heart of Black American Culture.^[1][2][3] She is a prominent voice in the Charlotte Mason homeschooling community, playfully describing her approach by saying, "In my house, Charlotte Mason has an afro."^[4][5]

Early life and homeschooling journey

Amber O'Neal Johnston is the daughter of two public school principals and was raised in a family with a deep commitment to education. She did not initially plan to homeschool her own children.^[6][1] However, as her children reached preschool age, she was inspired by other homeschooling families she encountered and felt drawn to the "magical childhood" their children experienced.^[1] She began homeschooling her eldest child from preschool and has continued for over two decades.^[1] Johnston lives in Georgia with her husband Scott and their four children.^[2][6]

Advocacy and community building

Johnston's advocacy work centers on ensuring that children see their heritage and culture reflected in their education, particularly through literature. Her perspective was profoundly shaped when her eldest daughter remarked that "people who look like us never did anything worth studying."^[1] This moment catalyzed Johnston's commitment to integrating Black history and culture into her family's curriculum and to sharing resources more broadly.^[1][7] She encourages parents to adopt a "village mentality," helping to support other homeschooling families.^[1]

Heritage Homeschoolers

In 2016, Johnston co-founded Heritage Homeschoolers with four other families in the Atlanta suburbs to create a community where Black children could see their ethnic heritage mirrored and valued.^[1] The group grew to include over 100 families, a third of whom were new to homeschooling.^[1] Heritage Homeschoolers organizes camping trips, poetry readings, father-daughter dances, book clubs, and other events.^[1] The group is not explicitly Christian, though many members identify as such.^[1]

Heritage Mom and resources

Johnston is the founder of HeritageMom.com, a website where she shares lesson guides, booklists featuring diverse authors and characters, and resources for creating a culturally-rich home environment.^[2][6] Her offerings include themed lesson guides on African and African American history and multicultural hymn studies.^[1] The site is a popular destination for families of all backgrounds seeking to infuse their education with diverse perspectives.^[1][6]

Writing and publications

Johnston is the author of two influential books on inclusive education:

• A Place to Belong: Celebrating Diversity and Kinship in the Home and Beyond (2022) [citation:7][citation:11]. The book is a guide for families of all backgrounds to celebrate cultural heritage, foster open dialogue about difficult topics, and create a home environment where children feel secure in their identity while appreciating others who are different [citation:11].
• Soul School: Taking Kids on a Joy-Filled Journey Through the Heart of Black American Culture (2025) [citation:3][citation:8]. This book is a resource featuring over 100 essential book titles for early readers through high school, curated to celebrate Black American culture, accompanied by discussion questions, activities, and related resource recommendations [citation:3].

She is also a regular contributor to the Wild + Free homeschooling community.^[6][2]

Speaking and media appearances

Johnston is a sought-after speaker at homeschooling, parenting, and education conferences across the country.^[6] She has been a guest on numerous podcasts, including "The Sister Circle Podcast," "Don't Mom Alone," and "Modern Miss Mason," discussing topics ranging from homeschooling confidence to the importance of representation in children's literature.^[6][8]

References