An Evening with Zadie Smith
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Earlier this month, I had the absolute pleasure (and I don’t type that word lightly) of meeting Zadie Smith at an event at Arizona State University. Zadie Smith, who is a novelist (best selling author), essayist, short story writer, and a professor at New York University is also a writer whose work I’ve never had the pleasure of reading (I’m ashamed to even admit that).
If I’m being honest, I wasn’t sure what to expect. My friends and I were just enthused at the idea of a black author coming to Phoenix. Unfortunately, it doesn’t happen as often as it should, but I digress.
I figured I’d get a little writing advice—more than likely something I’d already heard once before, or perhaps an introduction to an author unfamiliar to myself whose work I may actually fall in love with, and to be quite frank…a little too frank, I was most looking forward to having dinner with my girls afterward. Yep, I wanted to eat. (sigh)
However…
and this is a massive however…
what I experienced instead was more than I dared to imagine.
So much more.
In true scorpio fashion (because I always have to mention someone’s zodiac sign. I know, insert eye-rolling emoji here), Zadie was magnetic. She spoke on many different topics such as race, culture, renown writers whose work I’ve never even dared to read, teaching, and the importance and impact of a beautifully punctuated sentence (something I agree with entirely), just to name a few. She was extremely articulate and charming, but what struck me the most wasn’t what she was saying albeit informative and enjoyable, but rather how she was saying it. She was comfortable in her skin, answering every question (and lets face it, some of the questions were a bit out there) seemingly true to her character regardless of who agreed or disagreed with her opinions, and with an air of freedom that was infectious. She sat in her seat like a relaxed and unbothered literary queen on her throne and commanded the entire audience, donning a mauve head wrap, little to no makeup, and comfortable clothing.
She was radiant!
What I learned from Zadie that evening was simple:
Authenticity.
Staying true to myself, even when it looks different—and let’s hope for the sake of humanity, it does—from everyone else. Because I have something to offer the world. Something unique to who I am. Something only I can give. There’s something terrifyingly vulnerable about being authentic, and as disturbing as that notion is, there is also something tremendously powerful and gratifying about it as well. Simply put, it is the only way to be. Liberated.
Of all the writing advice that I have garnered throughout my years as a writer, my heart cradles this one the most. Who am I, and not only that, but what is my art, if I am not standing in my truth? What am I giving, if not myself? This, of course, is cliché ideology but authenticity is one of the characteristics that I’ve witnessed the least amongst the masses, and one that I, myself, am hoping to master to a great extent. It is my hope that my work will hold true to the soul that dwells within me and that it will speak volumes as to what I was meat to contribute to this world.
Ms. Zadie Smith, to say that it was an absolute pleasure to be in your presence that evening would be an understatement. Your way of being is admirable and highly refreshing. Until next time…
Always love and blessings,
Tamarria
“When I write, I am trying to express my way of being in the world.”
