Mother, poet, activist, recording artist, and I am part flower child.
Why do you live/work in Philly?
It’s interesting enough not to make feel like I have to leave and it’s not too interesting that I feel like I’m overwhelmed with all this stuff going on. Philadelphians take a little while to warm up to things, and that’s when we give the nod of approval -- I call it the Philly head nod -- it makes me everything of what I am. I’ve only lived here, but it has to contribute to my art. I love this place.
Where do you live in Philly? Describe your neighborhood.
I live in Germantown, very rich history. I think it’s my favorite, not just because I live here, but when you go around and you see the little placards, the markers of what’s happened, who’s lived here, what they do, you know the abolitionist movement that was centered here, I mean, I just love this place. It’s such a diverse group of people who live here, hardworking black people [and] white folk who have lived here all their lives, and some professors, some politicians, some artists, educators, all live here and make it happen.
What is one of Philly’s best kept secrets?
The architecture in this city is unbelievable. You can come here on an architectural tour from some place else -- you don’t even have to do American history tour -- just come and look at the buildings, here in Germantown alone, if you drive down Chelten Ave.
What do you think is the city's greatest asset?
The blue collared nature of this place. At the heart of it, there’s a blue collar man or woman who’s raising their family and going every day, doing what they do, the daily ritual and working hard. I think that really is one of the city’s greatest assets because it contributes to the real nature of this place that isn’t fake or glossy or glamorous. It has the right amount of hip stuff, and really trendy, attractive things and it has just the right amount of gritty.
