We recently connected with Candace McDuffie and have shared our conversation below.

Candace, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Before we get into specifics, let’s talk about success more generally. What do you think it takes to be successful?

Success is subjective and different for everyone. First and foremost, I think it’s important to understand your purpose–what drives you, what you are the most curious about, what you go to sleep thinking about. It’s always been writing for me, but my path has evolved. I went from being strictly a music journalist to writing about politics. However, the mechanics of conveying a message through written word never changed for me. Being a writer is just as important as being a teacher, since education is at the heart of everything I do. In order to be successful, you must be intentional, hardworking and persistent–but above all you have to be passionate.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am a Chicago-based journalist and my work explores the intersection of politics, entertainment and race. My articles have appeared in places like Rolling Stone, MTV News, Essence, SPIN, The Root, NBC News, The Boston Globe and Glamour. I’ve been an on-air commentator for MSNBC, CNN, PBS Newshour, Hulu and HBO. My book, 50 Rappers Who Changed The World, was published in 2020 and takes a critical look at hip hop’s most notable figures. I’ve had the pleasure of attending and covering huge culture moments ranging from Coachella to former Vice President Kamala Harris’ annual holiday brunch. My voice sets me apart from other writers, as well as my commitment to standing up for marginalized communities.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

One lesson I had to unlearn was thinking that I had to make readers comfortable. For so long, I tried to separate my identity from my work out of fear that talking about being a Black woman would isolate certain people. However, it wasn’t until I embraced my point of view that I finally was published by national outlets like Teen Vogue, Marie Claire and Newsweek. In this country, Black women are placed under a microscope and I was so consumed about coming across a certain way that I lost myself in the process. That is definitely something I will never repeat again.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My online visibility increased exponentially when I focused on the world around me and what it meant for people of color. When Trump was first elected in 2016, my priorities in my work completely shifted. How did his rise to power change the very fabric of the Republican party–and what does it mean for Black people? My creative journey has always meant advocating for those oppressed by systems that were meant to disempower us.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.candacemcduffie.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/candace.mcduffie
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLr16jRPyc8aUSON3SNsrOjvCLodYkhC9q