Rarely do memoirs or narratives offer a window into human possibility and a handy guide to attaining the same. Sankofa is the exceptional proof that it can be done. Dr. Johnnetta Cole excavates her rich, extraordinary life; confronts difficult questions about relationships and pain; and exhorts each of us to be brave enough to dare for more. With candor, exquisite prose and the accessible storytelling that makes her America's educator, Dr. Cole gives the nation a timely reminder that we are not done yet, as long as we dream of justice.

Dr. Cole has given us a precious and priceless gift with this book. Her life is so rich and has given birth to so much insight, understanding, and wisdom that we should all be grateful that she has committed to sharing these extraordinary experiences and reflections. Beautifully written and expressed with love and compassion, it's a must-read.

An anthropologist, the first Black woman president of Spelman College, and the director of the National Museum of African Art, Johnnetta Cole takes the study of Black history and culture to new heights. She has strengthened American education, advanced American scholarship, and enriched the lives of students of all ages and the future of our Nation.

Drawing from nine decades of life, marked by fullness, challenge, brilliance, and joy, Dr. Cole offers a masterclass in purposeful living. In these pages, she invites us to walk with her as she models what it means to learn continually, lead with compassion, and stay rooted in the values that guide us toward a more just and thriving future.

Amuks’sm (everybody, listen and pay attention)—a matriarch speaks! In today’s society, with all the distractions of recycled racism, division politics, and the renewed lure of toxic individualism, our world desperately needs a heart-centered, community-driven, and relationship-oriented treatise on living the good life together. Drawing from nine decades of lived experience and a loving existence as an activist, scholar, icon, leader and friend, Johnnetta Cole generously traces a pathway for self-reflexivity, introspection, and imagination toward individual and collective liberation and decolonization. Part memoir, manifesto and self-help, Sankofa invites readers to actively remember where we have come from and to boldly envision where we must go to achieve social justice for all. 

Johnnetta Betsch Cole’s voice, perspective, and wisdom are essential for a time such as this. Her extraordinary intellectual, practical, and moral leadership shines through every page, as does her profound love for both her country and humanity. Drawing on the lessons of her remarkable journey, she offers a compelling call to action for us all. This should be required reading for everyone who believes in the possibility of a better world and in our collective responsibility to become better versions of ourselves.

Beyond any ordinary memoir, Sankofa is a warm loving hug, full of the wisdom and inspiration that Dr. Johnnetta Betsch Cole is known to exemplify. Sankofa is a powerful and deeply reflective work that weaves together personal history, social justice, and leadership lessons drawn from nearly nine decades of purposeful living. The book offers readers not only inspiring stories of resilience and transformation but also practical lessons on confronting injustice, building inclusive communities, and leading with compassion. Cole's unique perspective as an educator, activist, and trailblazer makes this memoir a vital resource for anyone seeking to understand how individual and collective action can shape a more just and equitable future. This book invites readers of all backgrounds to reflect, learn, and carry forward Dr. Cole’s examples of courage, empathy, and hope.

Dr. Johnnetta Betsch Cole’s memoir Sankofa provides a candid portrait of one of the nation’s most distinguished and well-known educators. Her willingness to probe within the context of a carefully crafted feminist history a broad range of issues—- friendship, family, marriage, art, storytelling, institution building—distinguishes her from most of her contemporaries. Sankofa underscores the importance of self-reflection in autobiographical narratives which Cole models for other leaders.

In this inspiring book, Sister President Johnnetta Betsch Cole shares important life lessons through anecdotes that are by turns amusing and poignant, speaking to our personal and professional lives and our roles in the global community. Most striking is Dr. Cole's willingness to confront her own flaws and shortcomings, motivating us to do the same. This compels us to be honest and brave, to love, and to never give up the struggle for a better world.

This brilliant memoir is a gift to the next generation of social justice warriors. Johnnetta Cole is an extraordinary teacher, educational leader, scholar and activist. She is a truth teller whose lessons of a life of learning, reflection and struggle will guide readers through her adventurous life. I loved it!

These are no ordinary times, and this is no ordinary book. It is part memoir, part call to action, and wholly a gift. At 90, Johnnetta Betsch Cole reaches back across a remarkable life to hand us what we need for the journey ahead — not rules, but offerings. Seven lessons, on: the necessity of change, the courageous practice of self-confrontation, the unfinished work of dismantling patriarchy, forging friendships across lines of difference, the possibility of love as a dance of equals, the revolutionary nature of art, and the redemptive power of story. Warm, wise, and deeply encouraging, Sankofa is the comfort of an elder's embrace and the loving message that we never walk this road alone.

Moving through the world as a little person with a variety of disabilities the cultural archetypes my physical form calls to mind are neither powerful or flattering (e.g. elves, dwarves, trolls, pixies). My role as a corporate executive and change agent championing diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility required that I demonstrate the kind of commanding presence and leadership that Dr. Cole not only effortlessly exudes, but an ability to build strong and lasting collaborative relationships with powerful leaders from a broad range of backgrounds and experiences. I have been blessed to have Dr. Cole as a dear friend and mentor.

Dr. Johnnetta Betsch Cole is more than a trailblazer—she is a living testament to the power of purpose, courage, and a life committed to lifting others. As my dear friend and mentor, she has taught me that leadership is not simply about the doors we open, but the generations we empower to walk through them. In Sankofa, Dr. Cole offers us more than the story of her extraordinary life; she gives us wisdom for the journey ahead. Her reflections remind us that our history is not merely something to remember, but a source of power to shape our future. This book is a gift to generations.