I remember watching my parents work tirelessly to ensure my brothers and I had the opportunities we have today.
Seeing how hard my parents worked, coupled with a desire to spend more time doing more of what, gives me joy. I started to question and wonder if going to school, college, and work is all there is to life?
I started to think about the question of what is a good life? I started to dream.
While on holiday with my wife and teenage boys, I accidentally discovered my passion for writing. I say by accident because up to that point, it never occurred to me that I could and should write. But the question of why not me is one I have explored for the last four years.
Because my aim is to inspire and tell the stories that encourage us to remember, reconnect and examine who we are and who we can be
Creative Writing & Storytelling
I am pleased to announce I was one of a few artists invited to contribute towards a groundbreaking project exploring oral traditions of the afterlife, titled “Duppy Stories 2022”.
The project, funded by Arts Council England, delved into the rich and complex traditions surrounding African and Caribbean culture, history and mythology.
Through creative writing, performance, and multimedia storytelling, these stories were brought to life, capturing the imaginations of audiences both online and on-stage.
The stories culminated with the opportunity to perform on stage in front of a live audience at the historic Old Rep Theatre in Birmingham.
You can read and see more of the project, participants and performances at the Duppy Stories 2022 website and also learn more about the inspiration behind the project and founders Dr Judith Bruce Golding and Sue Brown at the Nakuona: I See You website.
Published Work
Since 2018, I have written personal essays, blog posts, poems and more primarily on the Medium platform. I write to explore the science and art of living, and so naturally, topics centred around holistic well-being, such as love and happiness, mental health, and relationships, become my areas of focus. Sometimes I like to explore wider topics such as science and philosophy, race and equality. .
Below is where I am published and a selection of some of my work.
Fieldnotes on Allyship – Achieving Equality Together – Chapter 12: Understanding Microaggressions and Their Impact
Fieldnotes on Allyship is an internationally written anthology that provides an informal and informative guide to understanding systemic racism, its impact and preparing to become an ally
How I Learned to Live with Cognitive Dissonance
Despite increased social awareness, the stigma and discrimination around mental health are still common. This poetry snippet was written in recognition of something we are all likely to have experienced. Published in Lit Up – The Land of Little Tales, the full poem can be found here.
For more of my writing on the Medium platform, follow this link, Jesse Wilson
Performance poetry
WORD – Stafford Poetry and Spoken Word Slam Champion
I am delighted to announce on Saturday, 18 March 2023, I entered and won my first-ever poetry slam event. Below is a picture of me receiving my award from Staffordshire Poet Laureate – Dawn Jutton.
Below is my first public performance to a live audience. I have since gone on to perform live events around the country.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CeeUbHAo59X/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link