How Sag Harbor’s Own Suzan Johnson Cook Made History and Still Makes Time for the Beach
Real talk: Some people take on roles that change their lives, and then there are those who take on roles that change the world. Ambassador Suzan Johnson Cook, known to many as Ambassador Sujay, belongs to the second category. She made history as the first Black woman and first clergywoman to serve as the United States Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom. In that role, she advised President Barack Obama and traveled the globe advocating for the rights of people to believe as they choose, free from persecution.
It is an extraordinary responsibility. Yet, here is the beautiful surprise. This global powerhouse also calls Sag Harbor home. Not just any Sag Harbor community, but Azurest, a historic and culturally significant enclave where generations of Black families found refuge and belonging long before the Hamptons became a household name.
When I sat down with Ambassador Sujay, she described her connection to Sag Harbor in a way that felt both poetic and deeply grounded.
“This is a sanctuary where you can pull back, be inspired, and sustain the woman you are becoming,” she said. “Everything that makes me who I am happens here in Azurest.” That truth is woven into every part of her story.
Sag Harbor Roots: Salt Air and Soul Work
For more than three decades, Ambassador Sujay, has been a part of the Azurest community. She raised her two sons here. She swims here. She reflects and restores her spirit here. She has created a life where the peace of this village continues to fuel her purpose.
Diplomacy on the World Stage
During her time in the Obama administration, Ambassador Sujay held responsibility for nearly every nation in the world except the United States. She was tasked with advocating for international religious freedom in 199 countries. Her work required meeting people where they are, across faiths, cultures, and political structures.
One unexpected lesson she shared with me was that the position she held had originally been shaped by and for the conservative religious right. Her presence in that space was not anticipated.
“They were not expecting me, and I was not expecting them,” she said with a smile. “But we learned how to sit at the same table for the sake of humanity.”
Ambassador Sujay also recognized the absence of women’s voices in global policy conversations and founded the first worldwide roundtable for women in religious freedom, which continues today.
There were moments that felt almost surreal, including the experience of sitting in the private prayer room of Pope Benedict. As she described it, she paused, still humbled by the memory. A Baptist girl from the Bronx, sharing a room with the Pope. It was not just history. It was an affirmation of purpose.
Live With SuJay: Amplifying Black Women Leaders
Ambassador Sujay did not limit her leadership to international arenas. She also created space for local voices, particularly Black women leaders on the East End, by launching her television program, “Live with Sujay” on LTV.
What has surprised her most is the depth of talent in this community. Every guest brings something extraordinary. She sees it as her mission to make sure these women are not only doing the work but are also being seen and heard.
Wellness as a Requirement, Not a Reward
Her beloved wellness initiative, Selah by the Sea, has been transforming lives for more than 20 years. She explained that the word “Selah,” used more than 70 times in scripture, means to pause, reflect, and rest.
Black women, she noted, are frequently the ones holding up the world, often without interruption. They are multitaskers, caregivers, executives, leaders, and community builders. Yet the world rarely encourages them to pause.
“Selah by the Sea gives women permission to step away, leave the phone behind, sit by the water, and restore what they have poured out,” she explained.
It is a reminder that taking care of yourself is not selfish. It is a strategy for survival.
Legacy: Preparing the Next Generation to Lead
When discussing legacy, Ambassador Sujay became both reflective and energized. She believes that true legacy requires forward motion.
“We stand on the shoulders of Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, Dorothy Height, and Coretta Scott King,” she said. “We also stand on the shoulders of our own mothers. The next generation must be able to stand on ours. If our progress dies with us, it becomes history. When it continues, it becomes legacy.”
Her work reflects that belief. Through organizations such as Charisma Speakers, the Global Black Women’s Chamber of Commerce, and Women on the World Stage, she is building ecosystems that strengthen economic empowerment, leadership development, and global sisterhood.
She teaches women not only how to enter rooms of power but how to lead once inside. She believes legacy is about generational wealth, generational wisdom, and generational wellness.
The Ambassador Next Door
What is remarkable about Ambassador Suzan Johnson Cook is that she continues to rise to extraordinary heights without ever disconnecting from her foundation. She can meet with presidents and popes and return home to Sag Harbor with the same grace and gratitude.
She is living proof that sanctuary and purpose can coexist. She shows us that leadership does not always begin in a conference room. Sometimes it begins on a quiet walk to the beach.
Ambassador Sujay is still writing her story. The best part is that she continues to help other women write theirs.
Learn More and Stay Connected
- Women on the World Stage
- A global leadership network supporting women of the African diaspora
- Charisma Speakers
- A premier communications and leadership development firm Selah by the Sea An annual retreat for women seeking renewal and transformation: Hosted each June
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