A Moment of Gratitude at Artscape

17/08/24 18:08

This past weekend I attended Artscape in Baltimore, MD, bought a booth, and sold books and posters to passing customers either drowning in sweat from 99+ degree heat or the torrential downpour that occurred on Friday and Saturday. While there, a person wearing a mask, sporting baggy cargo pants, tank top, and cool skateboard stood off on the side and waited patiently for me to finish speaking to a good friend I hadn’t seen in over a year. After my friend Mike and I said our good-byes, they approached my table and said they wanted to thank me for writing Heroes, Villains, and Healing. They said the guide changed their life and helped them begin their journey of healing. They admitted that standing there, waiting to speak to me, they were nervous to meet me, but excited and happy that they were given the chance. They purchased a copy of How to Save Your Inner Wonder Woman, placed it in one of the many pockets of their cargo pants, gave me a hug, and disappeared in the crowd without another word.

I wanted to cry.

When beginning this journey of writing guides for survivors using superheroes, I was told (and am continually being told) by major publishers that there is no market for my material. Or, they applaud for me effort and my courage, but do not feel their company can take the risk of supporting materials that:

1) help male and female survivors,
2) uses superheroes to address unpacking complex topics such as cognitive behavior therapy, and
3) is written by a black male survivor. It’s a triple whammy of fear from multiple different angles they believe the only choice they have is to keep the topic and issue hidden in the shadows.

So, when someone comes to me and says:
1) they not only read one of my books, and
2) it helped them heal, I feel humbled beyond belief. I am filled with tremendous gratitude that someone found a use for what I have written and it has helped them heal.

It helps me continue to have the courage to know that I’m not crazy for continuing this journey. So, regardless of the perpetuated narrative, I was reminded that someone, somewhere was helped using the words and ideas I put to paper.

Thank you, Jaime.

Lost Imaginations

Read. Write. Rest.

A Moment of Gratitude at Artscape

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