Interview with Anita D.
I had the pleasure of interviewing Anita D. for this project. I met her right before the pandemic in my 12th grade English class. It was amazing having this wonderful…
I had the pleasure of interviewing Anita D. for this project. I met her right before the pandemic in my 12th grade English class. It was amazing having this wonderful and strong woman in my classroom. She has won 3rd place in a World slam and has performed many great poems. If you are unfamiliar with her I suggest looking up some of her works, some of my favorites are "And the Psych ward says" and "Familymatters". Another poem she co-wrote and performed with Porsha O. is called "Black stars" and I highly recommend it for everyone.
Anita D - And the Psych Ward Says
Anita D - Family Matters
Anita D & Porsha O - "Black Stars"
What place that you have lived in has had the most influence on you?
San Diego, I came here for school but then I started to do open mics and join the community. I realized that this could be my path and that my hobby could become a career. I met Rudy Francisco and Queen bees that influenced me. I also met a lot of people in San Diego, a lot of amazing people that weren't just poets but also other artists like singers and rappers.
What is your favorite type of music?
I like hip hop and rap but the more old school type and not the mumble rap.
How was the transition moving?
I have actually moved around a lot the past few years, like 15 times. Moving around, I have gotten rid of things each time. While moving around I realized that I am a sentimental person and I will keep small things but I have learned what I really need to keep too. I was thinking about maybe writing a poem about emotional baggage and physical baggage but it is not in the process right now.
When was your moment that you thought yes, this is success?
I actually had two of those moments. My first time was in 2016 when I joined the San Diego Slam team. The whole experience felt like a movie. I participated with the people that If I were to do a slam they were the people I would want to do it with. Everything just felt right and in place like a movie. The other time was the last slam I had been in recently. For the past year and a half before I had taken a step back from the community because of some sexual harassment and toxicity of the environment because of the harassment and some people. In the Slam I got third place and I was mad because 1st place would get a publishing deal. I was 8 months pregnant and it was hot and it did not feel worth it but afterwards I still got a publishing deal to write a book that I am in the process of right now.
If you could, what would you tell your 18 year old self?
When I was 18, that was around the first time I started stepping up on stage and I would tell my 18 self that this is possible and it can become a career. But I would also tell myself that the community is just built off of people that share the same hobby and even though it is promoted as being a safe environment there's still gonna be good people and bad people.
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