PUBLICATIONS

Ollie L. Jefferson's, Ph.D., research shows how narratives can change when culturally sensitive and conscious creators tell their own stories. To contextualize and theorize representation research in a productive way, she coined the term "exemplary representations." Exemplary representation models are examples or exemplars concerned with identifying solutions to problems for social and systemic change. For example, the positionality of culturally sensitive and conscious decision-makers counters on-screen stereotypes behind the scenes.

Become Inspired...

NEW RELEASE

A Memoir

Ollie L. Jefferson (Ph.D., Howard University) creatively imparts her life lessons through authentic portrayals of over a dozen personas in the audiobook edition of Time Will Tell: Stage Intro.

Preview the e-book version.

MONOGRAPH

"Ollie L. Jefferson's book on Queen Sugar offers a refreshing examination of how one show creator, in this case, Ava DuVernay, can make a significant difference in providing a more inclusive set of media images and representations of Black women. This powerfully illustrative and brilliantly descriptive book not only demonstrates the adroit skill and revealing candor of its author, but also the continuing struggle Black women endure in having their stories told on screen in a way that is honest, balanced, and quintessentially human. Bravo to Ollie L. Jefferson for blessing us all with this must-read volume."

— RONALD L. JACKSON, University of Cincinnati

TEXTBOOK

"Effective Speech Communication" in Growing Through Communication: Releasing the Speaking Dynamic in You by Ollie L. Jefferson focuses on how students can effectively communicate without saying a word.

ENCYCLOPEDIA

Dr. Ollie L. Jefferson's "African American Magazines" in The SAGE International Encyclopedia of Mass Media and Society shows how publications represent African Americans' views, achievements, and cultural products within the community and worldwide.

BOOK SERIES

Time Will Tell: Stages I, II, and III by Dr. Ollie L. Jefferson is an autoethnography trilogy book series. The author uses self-reflection and writing to explore personal experiences and connect this qualitative research and timeless true story to wider cultural, political, and social meanings and understandings.

Author Ollie L. Jefferson, Ph.D., was joined by Howard University students for her autoethnographic performance of the book series —

Time Will Tell: Stage I, II, & III.

Performance Autoethnography

Time Will Tell: Stages I, II, and III by Dr. Ollie L. Jefferson is a trilogy book series produced on the Page to Stage at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and other regional and national theaters. Dr. Jefferson is a recipient of the Maryland State Arts Council's Individual Artist Award based on her "inspirational work and artistic merit" represented in the stage performance. The award-winning autobiography or autoethnography uses personal experience (“auto”) to describe and interpret (“graphy”) cultural texts (journals and archival records), experiences, beliefs, and practices (“ethno”). The autoethnographic performance represents movement and critical self-reflexive discourse while evoking embodied and lived experiences. The coming-of-age story explores the transformation and maturation of mind, body, and spirit. Dr. Jefferson's original autoethnographic performance with her daughters, Nailah and Miniya, includes interpretive dance. The performer's movements and dramatic depiction tell HERstory.

View the full performance at https://www.timelessvisualworks.com/publishing-inspiration.