We were lucky to catch up with Marcia McNair recently and have shared our conversation below.

Marcia, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?

Writing is my passion and give me a sense of purpose. There are so many people who do not have a sense of purpose. I really wasn’t aware this was a problem until I saw a plethora of books on the subject. It seemed strange to me because I have been driven to write since I was a little girl. You could say I wrote my first book, in crayon, when I was in second grade. I’ve always loved creative writing.

I have worked regular jobs throughout my lifetime though I don’t consider my current job as a professor a regular job because of my flexible hours. I do not regret when I was a part of the nine-to-five grind. Each of these experiences made me a better writer. More than the skill itself, writers need stories to tell, experiences to share. Often, the worst jobs yield the best stories.

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.

Marcia L. McNair earned her bachelor’s degree in English from Dartmouth College and her master’s degree in Writing from New York University. McNair was an assistant editor at Essence Magazine and is currently an Associate Professor of English, Africana Studies, and Women’s Studies at Nassau Community College.In addition to published articles in Essence Magazine, Ms. Magazine, and Black Collegian Magazine, McNair’s essay, It Takes a Lioness to Raise Young Lions, appears in Issues in Feminism/ An Introduction to Women’s Studies/Fifth Edition. Her creative nonfiction story, Before We Were Gangstas, won honorable mention in the National New Millennium Writers Creative Nonfiction contest in and appears in the anthology, Memoirs in the Light of Day. She received a grant from the Long Island Council for the Arts for her collaborative performance, Diary of a Mad Black Feminist, now known as the award-winning Sistas on Fire! A Newsical. Sistas on Fire! A Newsical was produced Off-Off Broadway at the East Village Playhouse. Her poem Long Island Just Isn’t Long Enough is featured in Seasoned Women, an anthology of women’s poetry and performed by Composer Leonard Lehrman at the opening of Hofstra University’s Suburban Conference on Diversity. An excerpt from her first novel, E-Males, was performed at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. Her essay, A Tale of Two Mothers, appears in Mothers R Special/Celebrating Momma N’em. Her personal narrative The Incident Revisited was published in Black Lives Have Always Mattered/A Collection of Essays, Poems and Personal Narratives. McNair has received recognition for three screenplays: Ghettocyrano, The Open Window, and The Dark Child.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

All of my writing explores the experiences of African Americans, particularly women, who face contemporary problems regarding the intersections of race, class, sexual orientation, and gender. I blend my experience in journalism (via the analysis of current events) into my creative writing, using humor to discuss serious issues concerning diversity. Though Gil Scott-Heron said, “The revolution will not be televised;” in the 21st century, I believe this is exactly how the social change agenda is reaching the masses.

Have you ever had to pivot?

From the time I was a young girl, I loved women’s magazines. My dream was to work for one when I grew up. I never realized that the journalism field is extremely competitive. After graduating from college, because I couldn’t find a job in the field, I wound up taking a position in advertising. If you’ve ever watched the series Mad Men, you know what it was like then. I continued to look for openings at women’s magazines, and one day I saw a blind ad for a receptionist at a black women’s magazine. At the time, there was only one magazine for black women, so I knew it was Essence. However, working as a receptionist was far below my goal. Yet, something told me to just get my foot in the door and then shine. I took the job as a receptionist in the Art Department. A year later a job for a Junior Editor opened up. Because I was well known by the editorial staff by that time, I was hand picked for the job.

Sometimes you have to take a step backwards to move forward.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.SistasonFire.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marcia.mcnair.3/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/Marcia.McNair/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNgpzQcQQbOb9sSDVk-IuQg
• Other: Stage 32 Profile: stage32.com/profile/808003

Image Credits
Headshot Photo: Kahlil Nurse SOF Logo: Roland Jennings Dark Child Poster: Design Hub