Reflections on the Glass Ceiling

“I had escaped one kind of oppression — only to meet another.”

In this powerful and revealing memoir, James Johnson recounts his extraordinary journey from war-torn Liberia to the heart of the British social services system, where he encountered a different kind of conflict — the insidious, often invisible force of institutional racism.

Arriving in Britain in the 1980s as a young immigrant fleeing civil unrest, Johnson had high hopes for life in what he believed was a fair and equal society. But his new reality demanded a different kind of resilience. In an environment where racial stereotyping, unconscious bias, and systemic inequality shaped expectations, Johnson found that being "just as good" was never enough — he had to be better, all the time.

Reflections on the Glass Ceiling is a deeply personal and courageous account of a Black professional navigating the corridors of power in a system that too often failed to live up to its ideals. With honesty and clarity, Johnson exposes the subtle mechanisms that continue to hold back talented individuals from Black and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds in the workplace — and the emotional cost of constantly fighting to be seen, heard, and valued.

This book will resonate with readers of Reni Eddo-Lodge’s Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race, David Harewood’s Maybe I Don’t Belong Here, and Akala’s Natives. Like those bestselling titles, it offers not only a searing indictment of discrimination but also a message of hope, dignity, and quiet revolution.

Perfect for readers interested in:

• Race and identity in Britain

• Memoirs about overcoming prejudice

• Diversity, inclusion and leadership

• Black British professional experiences

• Immigrant journeys and generational resilience