Meet Seymone
Seymone is a lifelong Harlem resident and first generation Harlemite, “...I feel like for a lot of us… our families migrated to the north to find better opportunities in New York.” Growing up on her block she says, “I feel like everybody looked out for each other because, you [knew] if you were walking down a certain block and you were doing something you weren’t supposed to do. And someone was to see you and… call your parents. You [knew] you [were] gonna get in trouble… ”, she laughs.
As a writer, Harlem is important to her creativity, “...I wrote a poem called ‘Where I’m From’ that was based on Harlem. And so I highlighted a lot of the landmarks that are no longer in Harlem [and] some that are still here.” She loves taking walks through Harlem and feels it grounds and inspires her. Seymone says, “...One thing I love about Harlem is… I’m still discovering things. Like one day I was walking down Marcus Garvey... And there was a Brownstone [having an art event]... [They said], ‘Oh, yeah. We’ve been here for 20 years.’ I said ‘Wait, hold on 20 years?… There’s still stuff I’m still finding out now, I’m like ‘Am I really from Harlem?’”
“...I know I want to be that example for the next generation as well, because I work with children... So, for my children’s book I found a way where I can show that there are Black authors and… Black characters that look like you and you can still achieve your dreams…”
Currently, she works as a substitute teacher and has been writing for the past 15 years, writing Urban Fiction, poetry, and a children’s book. She tries to give back through her art, mentoring her students, supporting local businesses, helping with the African American Day parade, and attending community meetings. “...I know I want to be that example for the next generation as well, because I work with children... So, for my children’s book I found a way where I can show that there are Black authors and… Black characters that look like you and you can still achieve your dreams…”
Seymone feels the spirit of the community when she attends events like Harlem Week, the African American Day parade, Melba’s block parties, and The Soapbox Presents, “Every time I go I’m like, ‘Yes, we still here’… And… to… see the essence of older people, young kids… do the electric slide together… and having fun… It’s vibrant and… showing that Harlem is still very colorful. It’s still very beautiful because we’re still coming together…”
