Johnson grew up in Virginia and attended the Maggie L. Walker Governor's School for Government and International Studies in Richmond.

[3] She was elected to the Durham City Council in 2015, focusing her campaign on racial, economic, and environmental justice, police accountability, and equitable development.

[2] She was also appointed as the Vice Chair of the Council Procedures Committee and as an alternate member of the Durham Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission and the Community Safety and Wellness Task Force.

[7][8] In February 2019, Johnson and then-councilwoman Vernetta Alston were both disinvited from speaking at a Black History Month celebration held at Immaculata Catholic School.

[11] The invitation was rescinded after there were threats to protest the event due to Alston and Johnson being openly gay public officials.

[16] In June 2023, Johnson announced that she was not running for a third term, and would be continuing work in grantmaking as the North Carolina State Advisor for Movement Voter Project.