It is 2008 and so many of my friends and acquaintances have already made commitments to effect change in their lives. While I don’t believe in New Year’s resolutions, I do believe it is a perfect reason to say no to junk food, walk a mile a day or realign your spirit and empower yourself to follow your dreams. This year I am not just focusing on being the person that other people have told me that I am destined to become, but who I have always known myself to be. You see, I finally get it! I realize that everything I need to be successful I already have. I am a writer, humorist and a speaker. So in 2008, I am cultivating my writing and motivational speaking career.
At the end of last year I launched my blog, Out Black Voices. The purpose of this blog is to provide commentary about being black and gay. I wanted to be able to provide a vehicle for myself and other gay black folk to talk about issues that affect us. Although I began writing about ‘coming out’ as a black lesbian and the black church, I fully intend to talk about issues relative to the entire black community. Upcoming articles such as The State of Sisterhood in the Black America, Why Can’t I Critique Tyler Perry? and Stop Blaming Hip Hop will be found along side articles such as Who You Calling a Butch?, The Other Side of the Tracks: Poor Black and Gay and Your'e Out: Black and Transgender. I've recently begun reading essay and books by James Baldwin, I understand that as a conscious black person I have a responsibility to respond to issues that impact the whole of my life. The fact that I began with discussions about being a lesbian was primarily because I finally felt comfortable enough with myself to provide honest insight about my sexuality. After living my life for almost twenty years in silence, I have a lot of suppressed thoughts and musings. I will use my flair for humor and infuse satire into my commentaries.
As some of you may know, I wrote my first play, Fall of the House of Snow and received recognition in 2007 from the Maryland State Arts Council. I am now working on my second play tentatively titled, An Awful Wicked Thing which tells the story of Virginia Christian, a black wash girl who murdered her white employer and was the first woman to die in ‘old sparky’, Virginia’s electric chair. I am also setting the goal of finishing 10 short stories for my book, Stories from Cool Lane.
Yesterday, I began reading, Speak and Grow Rich as an introductory to how to begin my motivational speaking career. I am very passionate about education, the black community and issues related to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. I also believe strongly in human rights. I fully intend to become a much sought after guest for panel discussions, commentaries and forums.
While I know that all of the preceding movements in my life are ambitious, I also believe that setting goals and strengthening my resolve to endure and discover personal greatness is attainable. Ultimately, if I can just convince a few people to show respect and be civil to each other, inspire someone to realize their dreams and recognize their purpose in life or help a young person to understand who they are in this vast universe, I will have accomplished something great. I never had to look to far to note that I am much more capable than I give myself credit and I hope that sharing these goals you will realize the same about yourself. Here’s to 2008 being your year of the ‘YES’!
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