Today we’d like to introduce you to B. Jade.
Hi B. Jade, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’ve always wanted to play some kind of role in setting Black women and children up to thrive in a system that was never designed for us to. Not thrive solely financially, but also spiritually, mentally, emotionally, romantically, all the things. And while there were a number of ways I could have gone about doing that, I felt most called to work toward creating safe spaces and connecting people with the resources and knowledge that already exist.
I believe in “being the change you want to see”, which led me to my most recent project: the “We All We Got” Initiative.
“We All We Got” is a social justice grassroots initiative focused on community organizing, education and awareness, and coalition building among Black & Brown people and our allies.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The biggest challenge I’ve faced on this journey so far has been determining my role in the bigger movement of Black Liberation. I knew WHAT I wanted to contribute, but I struggled with consistency when it came to the HOW. I would find myself taking on too much alone, getting burnt out, then completely withdrawing because I was feeling so overwhelmed and believed there was no real point in doing what I was doing. Having to be in “survival mode” at the time really didn’t help either.
Surrounding myself with people (in-person and virtually) who not only see why this work is necessary, but are also doing their part, has been a game-changer for me. When you believe that it’s “just you”, not only is it discouraging, but you try and take on every role (including the ones you aren’t great at). Knowing that there are other people doing similar work allows me the space to focus on the role(s) that feel right to me.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I would consider myself an advocate, curator, a conduit. But all of those are rooted in the fact that I’m a writer first.
Words have always been how I advocate for and connect with people. An intention of mine is to let anyone who comes across my content know that the situations/circumstances they find themselves navigating aren’t unique to them– there’s SOMEONE out there who can relate to their experiences, or at the very least, can empathize with the things we as a people don’t always openly talk about– shame, fear, hopelessness, heartbreak, grief, our shadows, etc. Over the years, I’ve done this through blogs, podcasts, Instagram, poetry, etc.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
I would say that the most important lesson I’ve learned on my journey is that it isn’t my job to make myself more digestible for other people– it is not my job to mold myself into something that EVERYONE will be able to receive.
For a long time, I believed that in order to reach the most people, I had to make myself appealing to the most people. And as a writer in a generation where (I thought) people didn’t read anymore, I felt that there wasn’t a space for what I had to offer, in the way I felt best about offering it. I spent A LOT of time trying things that seemed to work for other people, but they never stuck, because those methods/motivations didn’t actually resonate with me and who I am.
What I had to realize is that it really is about quality over quantity. If even one person takes something from what I have to share, that’s enough. My focus shifted from trying to positively impact the entire world, to positively impacting my small corner of the world (we all have to start SOMEWHERE). Those who can relate, will, and those who don’t will hopefully find someone who makes them feel seen. None of us were created to be the “perfect fit” for everyone.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://substack.com/@bjade7
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/b__jade7/
