We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Rafequa Hall a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Rafequa, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What do you think it takes to be successful?

To me true success is never giving up, it takes a willingness to persevere despite the obstacles one may face. It is choosing to remain dedicated and committed to the cause. Many great success stories display characteristics of resilience, courage and a steadfastness to stay the course no matter how challenging and difficult the task.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am a self-published first time author. Becoming an author was not a life long dream or  something that I aspired for years to do, nor was it a desire that I was fascinated with. My one and only fascination was just to write, everything else came much later.

So I began writing back in the 1990’s around my college years. I had this green and white composition notebook, which was my first writing journal. It became my go to, it was my outlet. It was “the spot” Whenever I’d get that compelling spontaneous desire to write, that’s where I’d let it happen. That’s where I experienced total freedom of expression and self satisfaction. I’d set no guidelines for myself; it was just free writing. I placed no limits on myself, no matter what time it was, I’d have this notebook with me and I’d write until I was empty, until I was content.

As time passed I realized I had so many different pieces over the years stacked in folders, collecting dust on a bookshelf and in boxes. I’d pull them out and reread and edit for my enjoyment from time to time, then put them back for another couple of years. What was the point I thought to myself one day, if all I ever did was kept them to myself, to sit on a shelf or in boxes? What was the profit?

What if there was a piece that could help, motivate, educate or inspire a change after someone read my writings?

How could my writings provide someone a sense of enjoyment within the confinement of a dusty box in some old storage unit?

They simply couldn’t, so I challenged myself to step out of the box.

In April 2023 I published my first collection of poems, and my daughter Alanna completed the illustrations. Which was so meaningful for me because I provided a platform for her. It was not just something I could show her but something she contributed to and can also feel a sense of accomplishment. So yeah we’re both happy to share our combined creative art in the book entitled We Be Black, We’ve Been Blue.

This book has some of my writings from when I first began writing in the 90’s to more recently in 2023.

I had to bring them together in this book in a way that would offer something far greater than just poems and stories.

I intentionally wanted this collection to be set up a little different from other collections of poems that I read. It was important for me to find a way to give back in some sense to my readers. For example: the book provides resources for domestic violence and mental health awareness. It provides scriptures for spiritual guidance during difficult times, it provides affirmations for those dealing with self-doubt and low self confidence. It provides cultural references and black cultural facts.

 So I am proud to go a little bit further than providing a collection of poems. I didn’t want this book to just be at all about a broken heart of a relationship. I really wanted to say so much more. I basically created a stage to say all that I wanted and needed to say. I set the stage to say what my ancestors might have wanted to say. I set the stage to say what the voiceless and those hushed wanted to say and I will continue to bring that bold intent across the stage unapologetically.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

Personally for me as a creator, my initial focus has always been on the joy and artistry of my work. I just think that when a creator understands the potential challenges involved in turning their passion into a business, they face the risk of it becoming mundane and impersonal.

So it is vitally important that I remain committed to preserving my passion while also navigating the professional aspects of this business of being an authorpreneur.

My mission is to also use my platform to raise awareness and give a voice to the overlooked issues.

It feels great to be given the opportunity to amplify the voices of those often unheard, and to use my platform to shed light on overlooked issues and breathe life into the forgotten narratives.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being a creative is creating. I truly love the birthing process of writing. Sometimes you amaze yourself when you yield yourself to the art and see yourself and how your work has evolved.

I use to be really self conscious about my work. Perhaps I still am at times. I just refuse to let people’s thoughts of me and what I choose for me to hold me hostage. I write and I will continue to publish. I will do what feels good to my soul despite what anyone thinks or feels.

It definitely takes a lot of courage to put yourself out there. So I say  it may not be for everyone some will like it, some might hate it and some will love it. As for me…at the end of the day I’m happy to not stand in anyone’s box, but rather that I’m taking a stand;-)

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.Rafequathewriter.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rafequathewriter
• Facebook: https://www.facebookcom/RafequaTheWriter