My Work

My work draws inspiration from my experience as a queer Black woman who was raised in a family of Southern Baptists. From a workplace comedy set in the biblical apocalypse to a crime drama about disenfranchised casino workers, and an animated dramedy about a lonely nymph who defies her fate, I have written across genres. But what all of my work has in common is that it represents the joy and resilience of queer BIPOC people, showing how one can maintain one’s humanity and find love and community, even while facing seemingly insurmountable oppressive systems. I often reference my background as a former Classics student with my work as well, modeling characters after tragic figures like Oedipus and Medea, who are doomed from the start but find strength in the act of resistance.

Although I am proud to be a queer Black woman, I am also painfully aware that I live in a homophobic, racist, and sexist society. This intersection of my identities has often made me feel like I am under attack and, no doubt, has contributed to my mental health challenges. As a closeted young girl battling acute depression and PTSD, what gave me comfort was reading books and watching television and films. These stories made me feel seen and gave me hope. Now one of the reasons why I write about queer BIPOC people, especially about those who struggle with mental illness, is to make others feel less alone and to, hopefully, create empathy in others and spark change, or, at the very least, tolerance.

There are not nearly enough stories about queer and trans people of color, and certainly not enough stories that acknowledge the joy found in this community, as well as the heartache. With my work, I hope to contribute more positive representations to the canon.