My artistic manifesto exists in the world as poetry. So even though most of the things that I've done have been on other people's projects or could be pigeonholed in certain ways, that's not how I perceive myself.

I really liked 'Blk Girl Art.' It's like a manifesto saying why I create, whether it's poetry or music.

With lyrics, being a poet gave me a different approach than other people.

I have a band called M&O. We were working on our first album in 2011 or 2012. We were looking for people to collaborate with, and I met Chance through a Young Chicago Authors poetry slam.

When you're in a choir, it's about blending into how everyone else sounds.

For black and brown people, caring for ourselves and each other is not a neutral act. It is a necessary and radical part of the struggle to create a more just society. Our healing and survival are essential to the fight.