Determined and Never Afraid: Dana “DJ Showtyme” Johnson

By Dr. Phillip J. Roundtree Sr.

Harlem, New York: the Mecca of the Black Renaissance and a neighborhood with a stake in hip-hop’s origin story. Harlem, a place whose Black residents’ ethos of love, resilience, and self-determination pushed back against oppression’s suffocation. 

Harlem, the birthplace of Dana “DJ Showtyme” Johnson, the embodiment of that ethos, who cultivated her love for music and community in its streets. It was there where the seeds for her acronymic motto, ‘Determined And Never Afraid,’ were nurtured before being forged in the fires of civic duty and an unjust legal system. This is the story of Philanthropist, Criminal Justice Reform Advocate, sister, comrade, and DJ Dana “DJ Showtyme” Johnson.

Growing up, Dana Johnson was ambitious, bright-eyed, family and community-centered. When she wasn’t protecting her six younger siblings, she was outside in the streets of Harlem, beatboxing and immersing herself in the burgeoning culture of hip-hop. Johnson showcased her athletic prowess while hooping on the blacktop, and her love for learning by taking family trips to museums to expand her horizons. This influential time in her life was vital to her self-discovery in her late teens. Reminiscing on her childhood, Dana states, “I was always on the go,” describing a period of deep connection with family and community. 

At 19, Dana’s protector spirit and love for humanity gave rise to her military enlistment. Her quest for purpose led her to serve in the Army for eight years, including a tour in Iraq. While her enlistment was cut short due to disability, she credits her military service with her maturity. Despite the accompanying PTSD, she upholds that, “[the Army] built my character… it helped create the woman I eventually became.” 

Afterwards, Johnson parlayed her military experience into a federal job in corrections. Her familiarity with the legal system, stemming from the incarceration experiences of loved ones, enabled her to practice harm reduction and recognize the humanity of incarcerated individuals. 

Despite this approach, and the well-earned respect of her colleagues and those in her care, Dana found herself on the opposite end of the legal system in 2019. Despite her respected 21+ years of government employment, Johnson was arrested and wrongfully convicted for the illegal possession of a firearm. She was later sentenced to five years in New Jersey state prison, with a mandatory time-served of 42 months. 

Fighting for her humanity, she describes the experience as trying. The injustice was particularly frustrating because an existing federal statute allowed her to have an unlicensed personal firearm on her person. Johnson attributes her well-being during this time to her faith, friends, fellow incarcerated persons, and her family. Her sister Tiffany was especially important to her: “[Tiffany] made sure I didn’t miss nothing, she pretty much took over my life [outside] for me. Her ambition gave me strength.” Dana refused to lose hope.

After rejecting multiple plea offers, Dana’s appeals were denied. Despite her fight, she went on to serve the mandatory minimum and was released from prison in March 2022. Against the odds, in December 2022, her commitment and persistence for truth and accountability were rewarded: her conviction was overturned and she was fully exonerated. 

It was a joyous and liberating time, yet the cost was high – the trauma of incarceration persisted, compounding her military-related PTSD with new triggers. Despite these difficulties, Dana’s purpose came into focus. She decided to use her story to inform, educate, and protect society’s most vulnerable, young people and the incarcerated population. 

Since her release in March 2022, Dana Johnson has dedicated herself to ensuring that youth at risk of falling victim to the school-to-prison pipeline have the mentorship and resources needed to thrive. She has big plans, hoping to begin her mentorship program and open a recreational center for youth. 

Dana recognizes the importance of maintaining connections between incarcerated people and the outside world; she stays in touch with incarcerated women, holding monthly check-ins to make sure that they stay connected. She is a support, mentor, and voice of peace – striving to be what her sister Tiffany was for her. As an offering of love for the community, Johnson is also writing a memoir centered on familial and community love and faith. When asked how she maintains this love ethic – for herself and others – she returned to the acronym for her name, “[I’m] determined and never afraid.”

Dana Johnson continues to offer herself to the world, despite the traumas she’s endured. She recognizes that she is an example for many who admire her and offers herself as a voice for those oppressed, ignored, and forgotten. DJ Showtyme reminds us that adversity shapes us, but doesn’t define who we are to ourselves or others.