MEET THE AUTHOR

About Marcella

Marcella White Campbell is a writer, storyteller, and the author of Maya’s Journey: A Story of Two Great‑Grandmothers. The book grew out of family stories she told her children when they were young—an attempt to help them understand that their Black and Jewish histories are not separate stories, but connected ones. Inspired by more than twenty years of family research, Maya’s Journey follows a child learning why family history matters: because it is part of who we are.

Behind the book

Maya’s Journey: A Story of Two Great-Grandmothers grew out of family stories Marcella told her children when they were young—an attempt to help them understand that their Black and Jewish histories are not separate stories, but connected ones. Those stories, in turn, were inspired by a lifetime of poring over her grandparents' photo albums, listening to stories about the people in the pictures, and, eventually, using that lore to trace her lineage back to her first enslaved ancestor. Those discoveries made her proud of who she was--and made her want to share that pride with everyone.

A lifelong, award-winning writer, Marcella is the director of a writing fellowship for Jewish women writers of color, and also facilitates workshops for adults around creativity, memory, and identity. Her own creativity is fueled by curiosity, history, soul music, sweaters in every color, and San Francisco, where she and her husband raised their now-grown-up children. She believes that joy is part of resilience, that every child deserves to see themselves reflected in the stories they read—and that telling the truth of who you are, and where you come from, is an art form anyone can learn.

Further Works & Recognition

Selected Essays

Explore a collection of award-winning essays featured in platforms like Lilith Magazine, Kveller, and The Forward.

Writing Workshops & Seminars

Directing a sanctuary for Jewish women writers of color to explore their heritage through literary craft.

Cultural Preservation Awards

Recognized for educational leadership in documenting and teaching diverse family histories in San Francisco.

Questions?

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