We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Rose Marie Bey. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Rose Marie below.
Rose Marie, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you tell us about a time that your work has been misunderstood? Why do you think it happened and did any interesting insights emerge from the experience?
I have always been misunderstood. I feel I AM not allowed to show a spectrum of emotions. I’m either expected to be “turnt-in-your-face-activist” Rose or a Super Saint. That’s it. Anything outside of that seems to get me in trouble lol. I feel there’s a collective—a myriad of experiences that have left me a bit guarded and jaded over time. However, if I just had to choose the craziest time, I’d have to say it was after a meetup I went to from a community I was member of online. One girl literally spazzed on me because she felt I was “too quiet” in person. To this day, I don’t really know what set her off lol
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?
So I never ever know what to say about myself. Like, what do y’all wanna know? Lol…I do the most. And at times, that’s a problem. I sing. I perform. I speak. I write. Like, a lot. I’ve written three books in the past year. I write all of my own lyrics. It’s crazy I literally write in my sleep.
I’m also a life coach, a mentor, and founder. I’m super passionate about my baby—I Am My Sister’s Keeper Detroit. It’s a community organization I founded and we just turned one!
We raise awareness about the black femicide epidemic. Are you familiar? According to the FBI, Black women are being murdered every five hours in America and we’re dedicated to the preservation of Black Female Life through awareness and prevention. It’s super intense work, but it so rewarding.
Everything that I do I feel I’ve always done. My origin story is so cliche lol. I grew up singing in church, doing community work and singing background for artists. I would sing for everyone, anyone who would give me a shot. My mother made me keep a journal and write random book reports in my spare time growing up. I was first published in the second grade after she entered me into a writing contest. I credit her for my ability to write so proficiently.
I feel the community activism is a God thing. Either you care and are passionate about the people and the places where you live, or you don’t. Are you willing to give til it hurts? Are you willing to love the unlovable? Fill in the gaps? Go where no one else will? Put it all on the line for someone else? That’s the difference. Passion. Vision. Sacrifice.
I’ve always been this way. It’s quite literally God’s heart in my body. I couldn’t put it down if I wanted to.
Currently, I’m working on a new musical project that I’m super excited about. Yah willing, it’ll drop on Valentine’s Day.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
The most rewarding aspect of being a creative is making something from nothing. Like you can’t hold ideas, and the fact that you can take a dream from thin air and make it reality is nothing short of amazing. It’s a crazy feeling. Like butterflies and goosebumps. I pray I never get used to it.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
If there was anything I wish I would’ve implemented sooner, it’s the power of mastering your craft and building a strong, creative tribe. I was too isolated for too long. I went a long time feeling like talent alone would put me on. I would be an artist here and there. I would only practice for shows and not just because I wanted to be the best version of myself, and I couldn’t figure out why I wasn’t breaking through. I had to be sat down and humbled. I’m JUST now realizing the effectiveness of focus and hanging around and learning from other creatives. It’s crazy. But I’m right where I’m supposed to be. I got next, and I AM in no rush.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @rosemariebey
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@RoseMarieBey