Today we’d like to introduce you to Kemmie Douglas.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Sounds cliche, but I’ve always been a writer! I started writing in elementary with short stories and short poems. I can remember in 6th grade I was introduced to two of my all-time favorite poets Maya Angelou and Gwendolyn Brooks. Their writings influence the writer I am today. A lot of introspection and speaking about culture and blackness and trauma. It opened me up to new heights with what I had to write about.
I also grew up watching Def Poetry Jam and watching them in front of the mic is when I decided; That’s it! That’s what I want to do. So throughout school, there weren’t a lot of opportunities for poetry and creative writing ohhhh but when there were, I was on it, in it however I needed to be involved! I didn’t begin poetry slam until 2014 with the National Civil Rights Museum’s Drop the Mic Poetry Slam; where I placed 2nd place. I knew then I was in my purpose this was my first slam! I competed annually after that and continued writing but I knew I needed to be around others with the same interests to grow.
In 2018 I started finding the poetry spots and attending events and eventually began back slamming in 2019. Since 2019 I’ve placed in the top 3 in most of the slams I’ve competed in, I now getting feature opportunities, and the greatest of all I am a member of the Traveling Poets in Memphis who collaborates with pillars in the community to show poetry is alive and well! From the meek girl reciting poetry on paper to performing by way of memorization and passion. That’s the greatest gift a girl could ask for. And this is still just the beginning of the journey for me; for us!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Whewww, I think it’s safe to say the road through my journey has been much like dodging potholes in the road. You can’t dodge all of them and sometimes you hit a pothole so BIG that it just makes you want to park your car and not move anymore! Lol, My biggest challenge has definitely been a Me vs. Me type of ordeal. A lot of times I didn’t know where I was going with my artistry and I didn’t know how to get into the Memphis Poetry Community because I wasn’t placing myself there.
I’ve learned the value of networking and to keep showing up. I wasn’t placed in all the slams, I wasn’t been featured at any events and that’s because I wasn’t believing in myself to that capacity. It takes courage to get up and speak your truth in front of people who don’t know you and it takes persistence to keep going when you don’t know where you’re headed. Talk about walking by faith and not by sight!
Once I began believing in myself and my gifts that’s when the opportunities began knocking. My dad always tells me success is when preparedness meets opportunity. I’ve put in the effort to work on myself and with the help of my mentor Carin Malone (Writeoussoul) I’ve been challenged in ways that have only led me to grow. You are responsible for taking steps to get you where you need to be.
I think outside of myself the biggest challenge for me has been feeling like I don’t have the support but God has been the biggest support in sending people into my life that have helped me along my path. Through every challenge, I always kept that faith, and for that God placed me as Faith Poetikally Quoted because I Quote my Faith Poetically.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am Kemmie Douglas artistically known as FaithPQ (Poetikally Quoted) and I am a Spoken Word Artist, I mostly do poetry but I’m exploring more with poetry and music so I’m a self-proclaimed Instrumental Poet. Along my journey, I do slam poetry, show features, community events, and song features and I’m hoping to get more into music and poetry collaboration. I think everyone who knows me in any capacity is aware that Poetry is basically my first love; I’m always writing. My poetry is my therapy it’s always been my go-to for expressing myself and healing through different traumas and milestones in my life.
I think that others would also make the connection between my strong belief in Mental Health Awareness and keeping ourselves healthy holistically (mind, body, and spirit), I think what I’m most proud of is having a body of work that embodies my mission in utilizing my gifts to encourage others through self-awareness, self-expression, and mental health. When it comes to setting myself apart I’d like to say that my work is typically more introspection and emotion-provoking. My goal is to always make people think about themselves and their experiences.
It is always of importance to me that when I’m given opportunities I deliver messages and not just perform for entertainment; I’m always excited to do things that align with my purpose. I’m proud to say thus far in the poetry community the common goal is to use of art to express and give back to the community in some capacity. All in all the motto I hope to inspire through my work is “Heavy on the Faith”
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
I’ve always come off as pretty meek growing up. Not saying a whole unless I was asked to but I was always super observant of things around me and much more so for those things that intrigued me. Throughout high school, I became more of a social butterfly because I had so much that I wanted to do and accomplish. My academics were always the most important and they always came first for me. Everything else was secondary.
I joined a number of organizations in school that ranged from FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America), President of the Student Body Council, and Yearbook Committee to even getting a little active playing Volleyball. I wasn’t the best at everything especially sports but I think the thing that always excelled me in accomplishments was my show-up spirit and my teamwork is dream work attitude. I’ve been afraid to try new things but I’ve always found the faith to overpower the fear to go for it.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @faith_pq
- Facebook: @FaithPQuoted
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/user/10KimKim
Image Credits
Semarimedia and dcTheSnapper
