Becoming: Whatchu Scared Of?

There’s this amazing open mic that happens on a quarterly basis in Philadelphia called And so She Speaks. It’s founder Simone Roberts, I met in 2014 when I first moved to Philadelphia. I attended her second (or one of the earlier on) open mics and sang a few songs/shared a few poems. It was one of the most transformative experiences of my artistic life. I rewatch the video even to this day in amazement at how comfortable I looked on the “stage”. I was becoming there before the word was even a thing. I was brave. I was bold. I was so courageous. It’s crazy how that part of you can just slowly disappear. Then you look up and wonder—WHAT IN THE HELL AM I AFRAID OF? WHAT HAPPENED TO ME? WHO WAS THIS GIRL? WHO AM I NOW?

There’s so many questions I have about my becoming.

Life seems to teach us to draw back, play it safe and forget who God made us.

I mean, I was singing acapella songs with no issue.

I believed in my voice that much. In my gift that much.

God, bring her back.

Sanovia, bring her back.