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

W.J., thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

I believe to be an artist is to take risks and one of the primary risks artists must take is to refuse meaninglessness. We’re tasked to feel and to see and create from the depths of our human condition. It’s an act of gratitude; risk taking demands a belief that creating something new is possible, even if that thing is within, moving and changing us.

A few months after Breonna Taylor was murdered I was enraged. I wanted to burn things down. I, like many others felt a type of anger that quickly became hatred’s twin sibling. I knew I had to create something, I had to risk what was on the other side of destruction. Could I dare provide more light than the fire I wanted to wield against buildings and cops? I answered yes.

I enlisted the help of five creatives and created a visual poem titled “We Ask For Fire”. It was an homage to Breonna. It was my way of grappling with the complexities of wanting to see those cops punished while honoring Breonna’s memory. I followed my gut throughout the entire process. I released the video on what would have been my late father’s 91st birthday and it began to go viral. Many artists and activists saw the video. The risk was working. The video was speaking to others who felt a deep despair.

I remember being in the car with my creative partner and close friend Natalie Lauren Sims and we were watching the video being shared over and over again. She looked over at me and asked, “ What happens when Michelle Obama see this?”
I looked at her and said, “No, what happens when Ava DuVernay sees it?”.

Ava is one of the artists who has changed my thinking about activism and art. Seconds after I said those words to my friend, I received a notification from Instagram saying Ava DuVernay followed me. A few weeks later I would be commissioned by her media company ARRAYNOW to create another project honoring the life of Breonna Taylor.

That same year I would secure an agent and this year Beacon Press acquired my memoir Sue City.

The risk worked. It continues to work.

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.

My first experiences in the creative industry was as a spoken word poet. I began to submit my poetry to journals and magazines and that led me to script writing, creative direction, and songwriting. I’ve remained diligent and focused. I’ve taken breaks when things have gotten hard but never have I thought there was a plan b. There’s one plan for me and that plan may translate in many different mediums but I want to be remembered as an artist, a great artist, who took risks and invited people in to think deeper about their lives and how they take up space within the world.

I’m most proud of my commitment to my community; I’m a proud Black Queer Southern artist. All of my identities create a myriad of inspirations I can pull from. I’m lucky. I’m blessed. I also pay keen attention to my life. I’m open to how God wants to express itself through me. I’m always looking to be the direct recipient of God’s love every second of my life.

As a creative, but primarily as a thinker and writer I want my audience and clients to feel that change is possible, and life is worth living. Hopefully by the way I live my life, they’ too choose bravery as an expression. They too, choose kindness and empathy and truth telling as tools to set themselves and others free.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artists is that I’m in charge of my life in the most significant and mundane ways. I get to choose what color cowhide rug I want on my floor all the way to what words do I want to place on a page that could potentially change a life. Artists are always thinking about their place in the world and existing in a high pace society, many folks do not have that luxury. I’m blessed and brave enough to think about my life and what I want it to be.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

I went from being on the cover of my university’s magazine to being in TIME magazine. I believe in myself. There’s no delusion involved either. I know myself. I’m grounded in who I am and I have a keen sense of my purpose. We can’t be afraid to take risks or fail. There’s no such thing as failing. There are lessons pushing us toward the path(s) we’re intended to walk on. And I don’t mind walking. I want what’s mine.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @mrjamespoetry
• Twitter: @wjlofton1
• Youtube: WJ Lofton

Image Credits
Sydney A. Foster Devin Allen