In this episode of Badass Black Girl, MJ and Nehemie talk with Aya de Leon, novelist, activist, poet, spoken word artist, and hip-hop theater, and fiction writer. They discuss her series Justice Hunters, and her books A Spy in the Struggle and Queen of Urban Prophecies. They discuss how in the midst of the pandemic, Aya has found that compulsively writing gives her a sense of control over her life, and that while some people binge watch television, she finds herself compulsively writing novels. They discuss the importance of finding a community of writers and forging connections with other women, especially Black women. Aya discusses some of her favorite books that she has been re-reading lately, and what kind of writing she does. They talk about her writing process and themes she is drawn to. MJ asks how does one maintain a community of Black female writers, and Aya talks about struggles in the literary industry surrounding racism, sexism, classism, homophobia, ableism and xenophobia, and stresses the importance of doing your due diligence before joining a community, especially an MFA program, because there is plenty of predatory behavior in MFA programs, but beyond that, getting clear feedback in an MFA program that is not tinged with sexist or racist sentiments is difficult, because the majority of faculty and classmates in these programs are white. She urges young writers to be careful about where they share their work. She also suggests different outlets for those in search of a writing community. Aya de León is the author of the award-winning Justice Hustlers series. She teaches creative writing in the African American Studies Department at UC Berkeley and is an alumna of Cave Canem, VONA, and Harvard University. She is a winner of the International Latino Book Award, a three-time winner of the Independent Publisher Awards, and her extensive writing credits include Guernica, Essence, Electric Lit, Ebony, Huffington Post, VICE, Ploughshares, Woman's Day, and Bitch magazine, among many other websites and publications. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area and is active in the climate justice movement and the Movement for Black Lives. She can be found online at AyadeLeon.com

In this episode of Badass Black Girl, MJ talks with Jina Etienne, a geriatric social worker by trade and author of two books: The Bougie Social Work Girl and Haitian Girls Brunch: Navigating the Cultural Experiences of The Haitian Girl Through Brunch and Dialogue. They discuss what led Jina into social work, the specific needs of the Haitian population she serves, the challenges of working with an elderly Haitian population, and the struggles of Haitian people. They discuss the importance of sharing language and culture. MJ brings up Jina’s books and this leads to a wide-ranging discussion about what led her to write Haitian Girls Brunch and the pressures and expectations placed on Haitian women and even younger girls. They talk about the adultification of girls in the courtship process, Haitian parents, and the expectations they place on young girls and women. Jina brings up the importance of being exposed to many Haitian women writers. They talk about the internalization of negative feedback that can come from being brought up in a Haitian family, MJ asks Jina what she’s working on next, and Jina shares that she is currently at work on a book called Brunch for Black Girls that is similar to Haitian Girls Brunch, the differences between identifying as Haitian and identifying as Black, and how the two identities intersect. They also discuss the importance of having open conversations on social media. Jina Etienne is a geriatric social worker by trade, and an author. She founded the Friends of Haiti group to provide an environment of camaraderie for her social work clients, and leads the “in Your Own Words” Workshop. She is the author of two books: The Bougie Social Work Girl and Haitian Girls Brunch: Navigating the Cultural Experiences of The Haitian Girl Through Brunch and Dialogue.

In this episode of Badass Black Girl, MJ and Nehemie talk with Gabrielle Barlatier, actress, director, producer, and writer. They discuss her latest projects “Nodding Off” and “Tokyo and NYC” as well as two films she is currently working on, one a Haitian superhero film, the other a gritty crime drama series. Nehemie asks what led her into the entertainment business. Gabrielle talks about her childhood love of acting, and the struggle she had after college to decide to enter the entertainment business. Gabrielle discusses her upbringing by two very strong Haitian women, her mother and her aunt, and the lessons she learned from them, MJ asks her what she’d like her audience to take away from seeing her performances and/or films. Gabrielle then discusses the importance of inspiring positive action and influencing culture. She discusses whether she prefers acting to directing and the differences between those two roles. Nehemie and MJ ask Gabrielle for advice for other Haitian creatives who may feel pressured to work in a traditional field. Gabrielle discusses the importance of listening to yourself and not letting other people sway you from a direction you feel destined to take. They discuss the changes since the pandemic for an actor/director/producer, and Gabrielle discusses the importance of making contacts to further one’s career, even if they are virtual contacts and not face to face meetings. You can find out more about Gabrielle’s work at gabriellebarlatier.com. Gabrielle Barlatier is a 23-year-old Haitian American actor, writer, producer, and director born in central New Jersey. After graduating with her Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education and Business Administration, Gabrielle found herself in an industry far off from where she expected. No longer actively acting, she felt she needed a change. After graduating, Gabi moved back to the New York/New Jersey area in pursuit of her full-time acting career. In no time, Gabrielle made her official theater debut in New York as Travis in Lorraine Hansberry's the A Raisin in Sun this past November. While building her craft on stage, Gabrielle has also been establishing her career in the student film circuit. Her most notable lead role was in the NYU Thesis film, “To the Girl that Looks like Me” written and directed by Ewurakua Amoah. The film has since been selected as a finalist in the 47th Student Academy Awards presented by The Academy. In July, Gabrielle made her directorial debut, directing a Healing Room Films production film written and produced by herself. She has been cast in two recent features, Before the Rain and A Day to Love and hopes to soon book more work to broaden her range.

This week, on Badass Black Girl, M.J. talks with Alice Randall, an award-winning writer. They discuss her childhood in Detroit and the vibrant art scene of her youth. They also discuss her latest novel Black Bottom Saints and why she wrote her book. Alice explains why joy is radical and why she’s all about love. M.J. asks her where she gets her spectacular energy from, and the secrets of her success. They also discuss books that have impacted her, and Alice offers some tips for young writers. They round out the conversation by talking about the advantages and disadvantages of trying to interact with an audience during a pandemic. Alice Randall is a Harvard-educated author of novels, including The Wind Done Gone, Pushkin and the Queen of Spades, Rebel Yell, and Ada's Rules. With her daughter, Caroline Randall Williams, she co-authored the acclaimed cookbook Soul Food Love which won the NAACP Image award and the young adult novel The Diary of B. B. Bright, Possible Princess, which received the Phillis Wheatley Award. A Professor and Writer-in-Residence at Vanderbilt University, Randall teaches courses on soul food, African-American children's literature, and African-American film.

In this episode of Badass Black Girl, MJ talks with Cassandre Thrasybule, a mother, documentary filmmaker, writer and journalist. They discuss her book, Overcoming the Dark Clouds, why she wrote it, how her children take an active role in her projects, and how everyone has the potential to be a healer. They also discuss her documentary films, and how they reflect her roots in the Haitian diaspora. MJ and Cassandre discuss the pandemic and how it is affecting her upcoming projects, and the importance of raising awareness about social issues to changing society as a whole. Cassandre Thrasybule, a humanitarian by nature, is a journalist and film-documentary producer with an interest in philosophy, literature and sociology. Ms. Thrasybule's productions on society’s core issues have been awarded among others, the 2019 Tin medal by the Arts, Sciences and Lettres Academy, in Paris, France. Ms. Thrasybule is also a certified personal life coach. She is the author of Overcoming the Dark Clouds.

In this episode of Badass Black Girl, MJ talks with Celia Sorhaindo, a writer from the Caribbean island of Dominica. They discuss her collection of poetry, Guabancex, about a Category 5 hurricane, the worst in recorded history, which struck the island of Dominica in 2018. They also talk about how she remained connected to her Caribbean roots while growing up in the UK, and the complicated issues that are attached to being part of the Caribbean diaspora, what she’s been up to since the pandemic struck, and the many different paths that writers take. Celia A. Sorhaindo was born in Dominica. She left when she was eight, lived for many years in the UK and returned home in 2005. Her poems have been published in Caribbean journals and in the anthology, New Daughters of Africa. She has been long-listed for the UK National Poetry competition. She is the author of Guabancex.

In this episode of Badass Black Girl, MJ talks with France-Luce Benson, playwright, film and television writer, arts educator and Community Engagement Coordinator for the Fountain Theatre. They discuss her journey from Zaire to Los Angeles and points in-between, and how her multicultural background informs her work and life. They also discuss her work and themes that are prevalent in her plays such as concerns of the Caribbean and African diasporas. MJ asks France-Luce how to nurture a life in theatre, and they talk about the importance of nurturing relationships with artists you admire, and how the world of theatre has been influenced by social media. France-Luce talks about the first time she had a play professionally produced and the joy of seeing the production take shape. They talk about the importance of collaboration in theatre and how to meet a producer halfway when they want to make changes to a script. France-Luce shares news about her upcoming projects and how she’s been keeping busy during the pandemic, and shares her tips for self-care. France-Luce Benson holds a BFA in Theatre from Florida International University and an MFA in dramatic writing from the Carnegie Mellon School of Drama. She was Djerassi Writer in Residence 2017, and has won several honors including: The Kilroys List Honorable Mention (Deux Femmes on the Edge de la Revolution and Boat People), NEA Grant recipient 2017, Dramatists Guild Fellow 2015-2016, Winner of the 41st annual Samuel French OOB Festival 2016, winner of the National New Play Network Award for Short Playwriting 2014, Playwright Observer Fellow at the Eugene O’Neil NPC 2016; Alfred P. Sloan New Play Commission (The Devil’s Salt); Ensemble Studio Theatre New Play Commission (Showtime Blues), Alfred P. Sloan Screenplay Award (Healing Roots); Princess Grace Award Runner Up, and Member Playwright at the Ensemble Studio Theatre.

In this episode of Badass Black Girl, MJ talks with Dr. Solanges Vivens, female entrepreneur and author about her book, Girls Can Move Mountains. They discuss her journey from factory worker to multi-million-dollar entrepreneur in the healthcare industry, and her struggle to adapt to life in the United States after immigrating to New York as a teenager from Haiti. They also talk about her relationships with the men in her life and how those relationships helped shape her journey. Dr. Vivens talks about the role that blessings, faith and luck played in her life. She gives advice to young entrepreneurs about how to manage relationships with others at work and what it means to be accountable to your employees. She also talks about how she pushed back against racism in the early 70s and found opportunity to advance when few opportunities were available to Black women. Finally, Dr. Vivens shares how and why she continues to mentor younger women and her remarkable goals for 2021. You can find out more about Dr. Vivens’s remarkable book at: Girls Can Move Mountains: Rewriting the Rules of Female Entrepreneurship Dr. Solanges Vivens is a visionary business leader who has been at the forefront of healthcare entrepreneurship for over 40 years. As a Haitian teenager, Dr. Vivens came to the United States and blazed a path through the field of nursing. In 1988, she formed Vital Management Team, Long Term Care, Inc. commonly referred to by its acronym VMT, Long Term Care, Inc. She based VMT on one simple idea, “commitment to quality” and she never wavered from this concept. Dr. Vivens earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Long Island University, progressing to a master’s degree in health services administration from Georgetown University. She received her doctoral degree in human letters from Voorhees College in Denmark, SC in May 2004. She is author of the book Girls Can Move Mountains.