Urgency

How Shirley Chisholm is radicalizing me to be myself

I recently read Unbought and Unbossed by Shirley Chisholm, her 1970 memoir detailing her life and entrance into politics. Between reading Chisholm’s memoir and Tara Mohr’s Playing Big, I feel empowered to live as my fully unadulterated self.

And to be honest, while I know the world is not ready for that, I’m not certain I am either. But I’m going to give it a try.

Chisholm closes her memoir with the words: “I feel an incredible urgency that we must do it now. If time has not run out, it is surely ominously short” (209). The “it” to which Chisholm refers is “join[ing] together to insist that this nation deliver on the promise it made nearly 200 years ago, that every man be allowed to be a man” (209). Although Chisholm’s language is gendered, the intent is clear. Chisholm urges Americans to join together to insist the US live up to its founding principles of all people being created equal and with the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. And like Chisholm, I feel an incredible urgency to do so now, because the second Trump presidency is pulling apart the tenuous threads holding the US together.

But what to do?

Lots of things can and should be done. Where do I begin? By being who God created me to be and doing the work He created me to do. If there ever has been a time to lean into the unique form God created in me, it is now. I’ve lived a lifetime of shrinking myself and trying to please people, all while neglecting the very gifts God instilled in me to be able to serve people.

Thus inspired, this week I’ve been trying out different ways of expressing who I am and what I do. Below is my most recent permutation.

I am a writer, coach, and cultural custodian for Black women. I’m invested in preserving and sharing stories and historical perspectives that have been forgotten, neglected, and are being erased. I write about 19th Century literature by and/or about African Americans, and I also write biblical fiction and drama from unexpected perspectives.

At LELA House, I work to promote the collective vision, joy, and peace of Black women. Through book coaching and writing coaching, I support writers (fiction and nonfiction, popular and academic) who magnify the lives, stories, and concerns of African American women in the US during the long 19th Century. I also support academic writers whose work extends beyond the 19th Century and seeks to maintain, protect, and advance the culture of Black women. I do so through executive life coaching, accountability coaching, and self-care services.

I hold a bachelors, masters, and doctorate in English, and I'm a certified executive life coach, bibliocoach, and life story coach. I've spent most of my career supporting people on their writing journeys, and I've learned that writing is never just about the writing. It's about navigating emotions, habits, and mindsets. My background in research and writing, combined with my coaching practice, allows me to hold a safe and structured space for clients where they can navigate their research, hone their writing, and grow into their potential. In other words, God created me and equipped me to do this exact work to support you.

I believe God created every individual (including you) with a unique design to transform your community, and by extension, the world. I can't wait to work with you and see how God moves through you.

If who I am and the work I do resonates with you, say hi in the comments or drop me a message via chat. I’d love to connect.

Work Cited

Chisholm, Shirley. Unbought and Unbossed. 1970. Kindle ed., HarperCollins, 2022.