Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Dara Mathis. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Dara thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s talk legacy – what sort of legacy do you hope to build?

As a Black writer, I am entranced by the struggles of those who have come before me, and of those who are still with us. I pattern my idea of legacy from those of the activists, writers, and freedom fighters who have helped me shape my understanding of the world. I would like for my legacy to contribute to people’s understanding of Black people as complex human beings with rich interiority. I want to leave behind work that forms a bridge between past generations and future ones.

Dara, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am an essayist and a journalist who works as a freelancer. I got into this industry in a roundabout way. While working post-grad school as an editor for an insurance company, I couldn’t find a way into (creative) writing professionally. Blogging in my free time offered me the opportunity to practice, to get my work and my name “out there,” so that people could get to know me. One thing led to another and I began writing freelance op-eds and reported articles for traditional media outlets. My untraditional path sometimes sets me apart from others because I did not start out in a newsroom. But I am proud of the work I have done to write about marginalized communities, ignored histories, and issues that move me. My writing often examines parenthood, disability, and Black identity.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

Within the last four years or so, I have become more aware of grants, fellowships, and residencies available to writers regardless of their institutional affiliations. I wish I had known of and availed myself of such help earlier. But you don’t know what you don’t know.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

True story: I first joined Twitter because my mother told me to. I’m a millennial and she is a Boomer, but she knew early on that Twitter was where the writers and journalists congregated at that time (say, 2013). She was right. I joined Twitter without the intention of building an audience, but with the desire to connect with other writers and people I liked. Instead of using best practices to build a brand online, I leaned into authentic connections with people. This turned out to be the right path for me. Strengthening those bonds into true community on-and-offline left me with a lasting, genuine network of people that I care for, root for, support, and who also supports me. That’s my best advice for building social media presence: consistently be yourself, provide authenticity and value, and treat others in a way that makes them feel seen and cared for.

Contact Info:

• Website: [email protected]
• Instagram: Instagram.com/trulytafakari
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daratmathis/
• Twitter: twitter.com/trulytafakari

Image Credits
Drew Bird