When I was little I always wanted to be a writer. I remember when I read over 300 books one summer for a Library contest and the lady didn’t beleive that I could read over 300 books in one summer…me a little black child in middle school. She quizzed me randomly on all the books and I was able to give her a summary of each one she randomly threw at me. I wanted to be a writer but was told that don’t make no money so I have up that dream and went into something else. Here I am back at my roots speaking at the GRiot and Grey Owl conferenc that was held in Durham, NC. Here is a summary of what I learned and why I was honored to just be in the room.
I was invited to speak at this year’s conference, whose theme was Carolina Gold. We celebrated the voices, stories, and brilliance of our people via the Gullah and Geechee waters. How I was invited to speak I have no idea but there is always a purpose in things unknown. One you don’t have to always know where your blessings come from…yes it’s nice but sometimes just live in the blessings.
On the panel I was able to speak alongside poet Marlanda Dekine and Director of Education de’Angelo Dia. Whew two powerful people that I didn’t feel worthy enough to even be around but I was in the room and I am glad that I was. de’Angelo said to me that I have been studying your work (I’m a photographer as another side hustle) and you are a documentary photographer whose work captures families to pass down from generation to generation and I was like what? Here I am thinking I was just a regular person taking photos but that comment made me realize that people see you differently than you see yourself.
Another thing I learned was that information sometimes is more valuable than money.
Be in the rooms where we can be ourselves in and learn from others. I’m not a poet, nor a writer but I do read and I love to be in various room and being in the room at this conference last weekend was amazing. It was also good to get to wear my own shirts for my brand. I wore my She Geechee shirt and that was fun to wear.
I hope that you follow Griot and Grey Owl for their next conference and continue to be in rooms that are for us by us and are always with us.
