Rev. Shonda D. Nicholas| Before I prepare a sermon it is important for me to tap not only into my god source through prayer and meditation but to listen, observe and digest the happenings in the world.  I see myself as a co-creator working together with god and community to give voice to that which might otherwise lie silently on the margins of thought never to be addressed. 

In addition to addressing critical issues I never deliver a sermon it what might be considered an orthodox style because the messages from the god of my understanding, people in my community and society as a whole do not operate that way.

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"I see myself as a co-creator working together with god and community to give voice to that which might otherwise lie silently on the margins of thought never to be addressed." - Rev. Shonda D. Nicholas
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Noelle Lorraine Williams| Ancestors are a rhetorical and assumed part of community in traditional Black cultural production.  In what ways do ancestors function in the production of your work and concepts of community?

Deveran “Bleek” Ashe|The ancestors play a big part in my writing because I always try to have them in my writing. I pay homage to the greats by adding them to my pieces. My mother told me to always respect the architect. I do that I think by adding them to my poems. I love learning and I am still learning day by day under the stars on rooftops. Whatever I see in the city is inspiration to write, something I might read, or even something someone may say! As "The Writer's Responsibility" [dialogue] did for me. I was in my element among writers and poets of the highest caliber. They are the 2nd coming of the ancestors but still alive. My concepts are a strong part of who I am. I write to enlighten and also to make think.

Rev. Shonda D. Nicholas |My poetry and my photography come from the same space.  The images that I capture, the words that I put on paper are about telling the story of the community from which I am birthed on a daily basis.
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"The Writer's Responsibility in my eyes is truth...I was lucky enough to have my mother in my life who taught me to read, listen, soak in the facts and then attack with my words." - Bleek
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Noelle Lorraine Williams| What were some significant points that you both observed or ideas that you took from the presentations?

Deveran “Bleek” Ashe |The Writer's Responsibility in my eyes is truth. My writing is for the love of writing but I do feel as if we have an obligation not just to self but to the people.  It pertains to my poetry in the sense that I try to be as straight forward as possible.  I want youth to be able to read and hear my writing with no censorship involved.

The first book that I can really say that I read all the way through is The Autobiography of Malcolm X written by Alex Haley.  The truth and honesty is what kept me reading and is what excited me about the whole thing!  The understanding of where your writing comes from, who your audience is and what the people would like to hear. My poetry is packed with facts, leaders, icons, people we love, people we hate, revolution, liberation, sports, slavery, the whole gambit. I was lucky enough to have my mother in my life who taught me to read, listen, soak in the facts and then attack with my words.

Rev. Shonda D. Nicholas| It is so, so very important for us all to understand our roles in community which surpass any label that we may place on ourselves as writer, painter, photographer, journalist, teacher or preacher.  We are the voices for those that cannot speak, we are the eyes, we are the ears and way makers and shapers of community.

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"God gave me the gifts that I have to serve community the way that she would have me serve.  My telling, speaking the truth in my art practice is the same." - Rev. Shonda D. Nicholas

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Noelle Lorraine Williams| One significant point of the panelists was that the writer’s responsibility is to raise the  truth to your audience.  What are the tensions and conflicts you have in your practice in “telling the truth?”

Deveran “Bleek” Ashe| One truism that I related to was telling the truth! I don't want to be one of those writer's that plagiarizes and doesn't use his own material!

Rev. Shonda D. Nicholas| One of the main conflicts that arises from time to time is my style of preaching which intimidates some at the same time as enlightening and lifting up others.  I believe that the conflict arises because I, in no way shape or form will conform to that which god did not make manifest in me.  God gave me the gifts that I have to serve community the way that she would have me serve.  My telling, speaking the truth in my art practice is the same.

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