It’s been a while since I simply wrote what has happened to me since the last time I posted. As usual, New York is keeping things so interesting that everything begins to fall flat into its own absurdity. This entrance into Spring, though, was rather extraordinary for so many reasons beyond even what is in this post. One thing about me: I really do think and act like celebrities are just people, because they are, and most of them are pretty boring and/or mean. It’s a treat when that is not the case, and you can have you know.. simple, polite conversation with someone you admire or appreciate.
Friday, April 4th, 2025 approx. 8:40 PM @ powerHouse Arena Bookstore in Brooklyn
ROXANE and MONA:
I raise my hand, my fuzzy blue sweater that I only wear for speaking gigs and interviews opening up to my tattooed hand and long pink nails, preceding me as I attempted to get the moderator's attention for my question. They didn’t see me. Because I believe everything is about me, I took this personally and got momentarily pouty about it. I was discouraged for the entirety of the time a different attendee got her question answered; I don’t remember what she asked or what Roxane or Mona said, because I am still always #thatperson in class. I raise my hand again, and the moderator sees me, finally. Roxane is giving props to living Haitian feminists as the facilitator lets me, and then the audience know that my question will be the last. Then goes the following:
Shortly after, as I am getting my book signed:
8:50 PM
JB: “I appreciate that you actually respond to your submissions for The Audacity. It’s very encouraging.”
RG: “Oh… I hope I was nice.”
JB: “I thought you were perfectly nice.”
RG: “Sometimes people say I can be…”
JB: “Well you know, they always say we’re mean.”
RG: “Yeah…”
JB: “Well, thank you again.”
RG: I hope you keep submitting.”
JB: “I will.”
RG: “Nice to meet you, Jupi”.
JB: “You, too.”
Saturday, March 1st, 2025 approx. 5 AM @ Jade Bar in Brooklyn
KELELA and A NEW FRIEND
K: Mariah Carey doesn’t listen to me.
NF + JB: Um, yes she probably does.
K: I mean, maybe if her man is bisexual…
(all laugh)
NF + JB: Well, she is with Anderson Paak now.
K: Wait what? How long has this been going on?
NF + JB: A few months now.
K: (smiles softly and looks into the distance)
These moments are incredibly precious and cute, so much so that I just had to write them down, beat for beat. They do tell me, though, that doubt lives in everyone. Something I hate to acknowledge, as it tells me that some feelings just never end in a world built to make you uncertain and on edge. I’ve been graced by fate to meet two incredible living artists and minds in such a short span of time. It tells me it’s always worth it to keep going but the weight will more than likely remain. The same night I met Roxane, I saw multiple white women monopolize the small time allotted to be with her to have their book signed, talking about themselves above anything else. Nothing intelligent or kind to say. I saw a “friend” of Kelela’s grab her ass as we exited the bar. Her face softened when she saw who had done it, but I could still tell it wasn’t okay. These experiences don’t end with notoriety, and I wonder what it takes to be free.
What I Read This Week:
The Portable Feminist Reader edited by Roxane Gay
— Specifically these sections: A Question of Class by Dorothy Allison; The Advantages of Being a Woman Artist by The Guerrilla Girls; Men Explain Things to Me by Rebecca Solnit
This video of the brilliant Oyèrónkẹ́ Oyěwùmí:
love this, thank u for ur reporting, love kelela