Who Are You?
My name is Leah Whitcomb. I'm a Black Southern woman writer and cultural theory nerd.
Where do you currently reside?
Born and raised in Mississippi, I currently live in southwest Florida
How long have you been writing professionally?
I've been writing for about 14 years, but I've been PAID to write for about four years.
Who or what inspires you to write when inspiration is lacking?
My inner child. I want her to be heard and seen. So I write the stories I need and hope that it resonates with other people.
When did you or will you know you’ve arrived as a writer?
When publications come to me to write for them.
What piece of writing are you most proud of and why?
I struggle with this because everything I write, I hate at some point and want to change everything about it. I guess "Where the Parents At." I still feel very strongly about the need to divest from predominantly white spaces because there's no way to reform them to make them less harmful.
Do you have any current published pieces?
Yes. "My Oppressor is Oppressed" and "Critical Race Theory, Defined"
What is your favorite quote from yourself and from your favorite writer?
“I have everything I need to go where I want to go.”
Favorite writer (Lucille Clifton): “Come celebrate with me that everyday something has tried to kill me and has failed.”
What does being a Black woman identifying writer mean to you?
It is a call to be the best writer that I can be. It's a call to make sure that I'm honest with myself in my writing, that I'm honest with my community, and that I always work toward the liberation of our people.
What do you wish you knew before embarking on this journey?
The hardest part about writing is believing that you're good enough to write. That you're good enough to tell your own story. But if you don't tell it, who will?
Any last words?
Thank you!
