Where did you grow up and what were some of your hobbies or interests as a young girl?
I grew up in three places: North Carolina (Goldsboro and Chapel Hill), Maryland (Silver Spring), and Texas (San Antonio). My mom was in the military. When I was growing up I loved to read. I was a big bookworm (still am), spent a lot of time in bookstores and the library (still do lol). I loved to write and use my imagination. Hmm…I guess not much has changed. lol
How do you go about writing a new poem or creative piece?
Poems are interesting creatures. I’ve learned over time that they can’t be controlled or cajoled really. I’m at their mercy. lol Sometimes they come in layers, sometimes they come all at once, most times they take way longer than I think they will to be finished. I think that’s the mystery of art. That’s how we know that inspiration comes from someone way bigger and greater than we are. Overall my poems, writing, stage ideas, come from a hodge podge of life, experience, stories, music, and somehow the different themes eventually show up on the page together.
Who has been a significant influence in your life and ministry?
There have been so many I won’t be able to name them all here, but I’ll try to name a few. Of course my family tree has been a big influence on me. I come from people who worked hard and sacrificed a lot to make a good life for themselves and their families, preachers, musicians, believers in God. I carry a lot of who they were, and are, with me. Growing up I was also exposed to some amazing women speakers: Claudette Copeland, Cynthia James, Iona Locke. Seeing them confirmed for me that God was calling me to be a speaker, they really inspired me. Music has also had a significant influence on me and what I write. My parents exposed me to great music and I still write a lot of pieces while listening to music.
What have you learned from your relationship with Christ how has it impacted your relationship with others and if you could share one message with today’s modern young women, what would you tell them?
My relationship with Jesus is everything. To be honest, sometimes I don’t realize that. I get caught up in being worried, feeling uncertain, being selfish, and a host of other things that distract from what’s real. But at the end of all of that, Jesus is it. I don’t have a life to live or a purpose for anything I’m doing without him and no matter what I go through in life he always brings me back to that. Jesus has made me less religious, more real and honest, and definitely more hopeful. A life with Jesus is reason to smile and see the world through a different lens. One message I would say to other young women is to be your beautiful self, just like you are. Accept yourself and learn to love you. Grow closer to God and remember that you can only get who you are from him, not what you do or how you look, not your relationships, school, or career. God is the only unshakeable thing to build identity on.
As a role model if you were to write a poem for specifically for the hearts of todays modern young women what would it be?
I’m not sure what that poem would be. Probably a combination of two poems. One is called “Margaret” which I specifically wrote for young girls and women. The other is a poem i haven’t released yet but it’s called “Dance With Him” about how God is calling each of us to follow and let him lead in the dance of life.
Where do you see yourself in a couple of years with the ministry and art God’s given you?
In a couple of years, I see myself having completed some show ideas about how to incorporate spoken word, music, and creative themes together. I also see myself putting together a few events that will bring together people around my age of different faiths and cultures.
To learn more about Amena Brown click here.
