Janelle – 32 – Community Organizer with Concerned Citizens for Justice/Spoken Word Artivist – Chattanooga, TN

Bio

I am not an artist. I am a nappy-headed, black, queer, womanist. I am fighting three battles before I even bless the mic with my voice. But once I do, the stage becomes my medicine. The ability to share my words with you saved my life. So to repay you, I share my life through poetry. I was born and raised in Austin, TX. I attended Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, TX. I am a double major Criminal Justice and Sociology. I come from a working class background and a predominantly black and hispanic community. I am a survivor of a gang-style corrective rape as well as other forms of sexual and physical abuse. I refuse to let my past keep me from the future I was destined to enjoy. Instead I choose to live life happy, and fearless, and to radically love myself. Its time for change and my goal is to incite that change in every mind that hears my words...........

Favorites (hover / click to see name)

  • music

    • Words and sounds volume three -Jill Scott
    • New Ameryka part 2 -Erykah Badu
    • Jagged Little Pill -Alanis Morrisette
    • Hell on Heels Pistol Annies
    • Black Album-Jay-Z

  • movies

    • Color Purple
    • Lean on Me
    • Coming to America
    • The Notebook
    • Training Day

  • publications

    • Autobiography of Assata Shakur - Assata Shakur
    • The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness -Michelle Alexander
    • In Search of Our Mother's Gardens -Alice Walker
    • Sister Outsider- Audre Lorde
    • Other Side of Paradise - Staceyann Chin

  • I am BlerdNation because...

    I am different. I do what's right even if it is unpopular. I love all types of music and books. I love my community and spend the majority of my time committed to the full liberation of our people.

  • Who is your blerd role model? Why?

    Audre Lorde. She was black, queer and a Woman-identified Woman (Similar to Womanist) and poet just like me. She didn't allow her past to keep her from pursuing her dreams. She was a revolutionary because she loved herself and helped other black women to love themselves also. I strive to continue her work in encouraging black women to radically love ourselves.

  • How do you stay connected to other blerds?

    Mostly through social networking performing, and community organizing. Also my best friend is a blerd.

  • What’s your most awkward blerd moment?

    I think the most awkward moment for me is when folks find out I'm from a very poor background. Like its weird to me that people automatically associate poor with ignorant.

  • What’s your favorite word/phrase?

    My favorite word is queer. I like how it's in your face, not shy. Also I love that its so ambiguous. I don't like labels so queer leaves you guessing and if you want clarification you have to have a conversation with me.

  • What are your goals/passions?

    My goal is to rebuild the black liberation movement in the city of Chattanooga that is inclusive to the queer community. I would like to continue to perform my poetry. And I'd say I'm most passionate about seeing the end of the racist patriarchal capitalist society that we currently live in.

  • What are you listening to, watching, or reading that impacts you or that is giving you a different perspective?

    Assata Shakur's autobiography hanged my perspective on quite a few things. Specifically it encouraged me to understand that even if my job I currently work in isn't revolutionary may be able to still use the skills gained from it in the future.

  • Are there any famous, or not-so-famous, people that you think would be a great addition to BlerdNation?

    Staceyann Chin, Toni Morrison, Michelle Alexander

  • What advice would you give to other blerds?

    Never stop being yourself. Sometimes the right path is a lonely one. People may ridicule you or not support your work, but do it anyway. Also allow yourself to have fun. We sometimes take ourselves way too seriously. It's ok to have fun once in awhile.

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