Alexis Lawson is a poet, storyteller, and author of the poetry collection The Beauty in my Bare Bones(2019). She is passionate about making arts more accessible to youth, while writing through the black voice, incorporating her culture into narratives that some otherwise may not see representation. She is currently a lifestyle and culture writer based in Raleigh, North Carolina, specializing in black womanhood, mental health awareness, clean beauty, and realistic lifestyle. Her work has been published in Charlotte Observer, Midnight and Indigo, Grown Magazine, Business Insider and is forthcoming in a McGraw Hill textbook, ColorBloc Magazine; which you can view in her portfolio.
Alexis joined us for Episode Two of the Good Folk podcast to talk about the importance of storytelling, the American education system, moving beyond genre in writing, finding joy in poetry when the world feels like it is at its limit, and using hope and empathy as radical forces for change. We also discussed the cycle of rejection, what it means to call yourself an artist, and how to get your work out into the world.
Resources:
In Memoriam by Alexis Lawson, featured in Good Folk
Ghost in a Black Girl’s Throat by Khalisa Rae
Why Write Love Poetry in a Burning World by Katie Ferris
