Lessons Learned from My Speaking Engagement

Sharpening Your Saw: Social/Emotional

Tiffany Dames, Angela Hooks, Autumn Meyers (host), and Roya March talk about life, work, and mission at  Black Women of Black History on Saturday, February 23, 2019, at Urban Word NYC. 

The host, Autumn Meyers of AHUS, sent me an email with three questions we’d discuss at Black Women of Black History: (1) Who are you, and what are you doing and how you hope to make an impact on the Black community? (2) What drew you to pursue this venture? What has been your proudest moments of doing what you do? (3) What are some keywords of advice you would share with anyone who wants to follow your journey?

I looked at the questions, briefly. I thought about the Black community, the diversity of our blackness, our Black experience, and how ironic it felt to talk about myself and my work in the context of celebrating Black History Month. During Black History Month I supported as many events in my area as I could cram on my schedule, always missing a concert, a play or something, wish I had more time. During Black History Month, I usually curated a weekly program of events at church. I never imagined being a subject of Black History Month. I never thought deeply about how I wanted my work to impact the Black community.

I sat in my loft and pondered these questions, rolling them over in my mind, specifically, how I wanted my work to influence the Black community. I scribbled my thoughts in my flowered diary with pink ink. I’d share these thoughts with the listeners and onlookers on Saturday, February 23, 2019, at Urban Word NYC.

Dr. Angela Hooks says what she does as teacher, researcher, scholar, and writer is not who she is. She is love. She is passion. She is an introvert.

Before and after the speaking engagement, I learned a few lessons:

1. I share the same dream as poet and playwright Ntozake Shange, “…to have a nation fully of black people who are living up to their greatest potentials and offered the opportunities to aspire them.”
2. My words, my work can inspire and encourage the Black community, particularly, in a time when America Hates Us—AHUS.
3. I have strong and passionate feelings about being a Black woman in America raising Black daughters.
4. I should check the storage on my phone for recording, only ten minutes of thirty minutes was recorded.
5. Writing my thoughts in my diary was important, but I didn’t need to look at my notes. Truly writing in a diary primes the pump.
6. I had so much fun!

Until next time!

I pray for God’s best life for you.