Today we’d like to introduce you to Benedith Loiseau.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Benedith. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I started writing poetry at 15 years old after being saved. I was always a writer and loved to rap even but after I got saved, I began writing poetry. In the summer of 2018 after being homeless and losing my job, I began writing poems in the train stations and parks of New York City to pass time, feel a sense of purpose and make some money. During that period, I began writing my first book and now two years later, I continue selling my books and writing poems four people and I’m growing my business so that more people can get some poetry in their life.
Has it been a smooth road?
Yes and no. Writing has always been my passion and I’m a people person so getting to do what I love and what I’m good at while meeting people is pretty cool but like everything else sometimes you have good days and sometimes you have bad days. The main struggle I’ve experienced is just remaining centered in Christ and remembering what’s important in the “bad days”.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I’m a writer and poet and I sell my books and write poems for people all over the country. What I’m most proud of truly is the fact that I do this as a black woman. I live a gypsy-like life and that brings me a lot of joy. Growing up, you’re taught to fit into these cookie cutter careers and never asked what you want to do so the fact that I’ve been able, by the grace of God; to create a career out of nothing makes me giggle sometimes. I feel like I’m cheating the system in a way (lol). Like it still fascinates me that I get to do this because no one really told me I was allowed to– even in the “street vending” or “underground artist” world you rarely see women, let alone black women and less than 1% of street artists are poets or sell their books so I feel very rare and special in my space. It gives me joy that I can do what I want with my life and that I’m a trendsetter/leader in my space. It also brings me joy to know that no one else can do what I do how I do it. A lot of times jobs/companies make you feel so “replaceable” but to know that you can do something where no one else can replace you is pretty dope.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Yeah, Atlanta is surprisingly great for selling and street artists and vendors and general. More people should come through! Being from New York, I wasn’t expecting it to be but every weekend the Beltline is full of people and they’re real to buy and support. Atlanta is very supportive.
Contact Info:
- Website: benedithlaure.com
- Email: benedithmarie@gmail.com
- Instagram: @benedithlaure
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