Today we’d like to introduce you to Minerve Jean.
Minerve, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I started my Website/Blog MinerveJean.com in 2017. I was in college and learning to find my voice. My website stemmed from my need to speak my truth in all aspects of what I believed in from politics to self-care and what better way to express myself then building a brand? A home where my platform is my own and it won’t be regulated by some outside social media entity.
As a writer, I believed in words as well as the power of the voice. Too often, people were scared and didn’t point out the elephant in the room. What I learned from not pointing out the elephant in the room is that it grows bigger until it can no longer fit in the room. That sometimes, the conversation doesn’t start until the cup overflows because no one ever dared to point out how full it was getting from the beginning. My website was a way to break out of my barriers of shyness and hesitance. To bring something to the table. To be as “intimately honest” as possible and let the world know how unapologetic I am about what I believe in. To start conversations.
It’s become more than my corner of the internet. It’s helped me to grow as a person and understand the power of words. It’s helped me to become an activist. Someone who wants to talk about it, be about it and fight about it. I’ve written a book called “For The Secrets That Gave Themselves Away,” which is one of my proudest projects. It’s a collection of unapologetically raw poetry that explores the journey of self-love, blackness, growth, culture, and healing. I never thought I would have the courage to publish a book. but then again, I never thought I would have the courage to create my own website either and from that, it’s led me to so many adventures all from saying, “Let me go ahead and write about it.”
What I learned throughout it all is that your voice matters no matter how small you think you are. You can do some pretty cool things if you put your mind to it and believe in yourself enough. Sure, you might be scared, but do it anyway. Write about it anyway. Talk about it anyway because if you don’t, Who Will?
Has it been a smooth road?
Not at all. The thing about finding your passion and working towards it is that life happens. Obstacles get in the way and sometimes problems become so overwhelming that we have to take a pause on everything. We have to learn how to breathe, recalibrate ourselves, and not give up. There are months where I haven’t had the energy to publish a new article, push out my book, or publish poetry, etc. because life happens. Once you fight the obstacles, I, in particular, suffer from anxiety, sometimes you have so little energy leftover that you use it to rest. What’s important is that no matter how long you take, you don’t give up on your passions.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
My website and book are an extension of me and all that I believe in. Regarding my book and website, I think what sets me apart is my ability to be “intimately honest.” Pointing out the elephant in the room and starting a conversation around it. A few examples would be my articles “Why I’m skeptical of Black Lives Matter Support” or poems from my book, such as “To my 12-Year-old self,” which addresses young girls who have to be like a lioness in a society where they are sexualized at a young age. My brand is unapologetic and I want to inspire and encourage others to be the same. With so much happening in the world, now is a good time as ever to point out the elephants in the room and take action on mental health, equality, etc.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
I’d say that the industry I’m in (blogging/writing/activism) is definitely going to grow with everything that is going on. People want to express themselves more and are finding different types of outlets to do so.
Pricing:
- For The Secrets That Gave Themselves Away $6.00
Contact Info:
- Website: https://minervejean.com/
- Email: jeanminerveri@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/minerverii/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MinerveJeanWrites/
- Other: https://www.amazon.com/Secrets-That-Gave-Themselves-Away/dp/0692058877
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