Onyx Espri. From NY to Spelman, and back again.
Welcome back to the Courageous Creativity Show, a platform powered by the Rising Tides Charity, where we are deeply committed to helping creatives overcome life’s challenges by using their innate gifts. In our latest episode, I had the privilege of sitting down with Onyx, an incredibly talented writer and Spelman graduate I recently connected with while she volunteered at the 15th annual Atlanta Black Theatre Festival.
Our conversation was a profound reminder that true success in our creative endeavors goes far beyond the applause, the accolades, or financial gain; it's deeply tied to the impact we have, the thought-provocation we inspire, and the personal fulfillment we achieve. Onyx shared a life-changing moment when she waited in line for 16 hours to see the original cast of Hamilton in New York. Standing at the back of that theater, watching how the art moved everyone around her, she realized she wanted to create work that makes people feel truly empowered.
But getting to that level of impact requires deep vulnerability. We had an incredibly introspective moment where we discussed the things we are most afraid to write about. Onyx bravely opened up about her hesitation to write about her congenital heart defect, fearing it might make her characters appear overly sympathetic or weak. I shared my own apprehensions about writing about my personal health battles. It was a powerful exchange that highlighted a core truth: personal experience and vulnerability are central to the creative process. By having the courage to put our art where our pain is, we not only heal ourselves, but we offer that same healing to our audiences.
We also dug into the strategic side of maintaining our creative energy in a world that often feels overwhelmingly dystopian, full of processed foods and a relentless subscription culture that limits ownership. When you feel yourself slipping into a creative funk or feeling jaded by the industry, Onyx offered some brilliant, actionable advice: take a step back, get off social media, and go experience art simply for the joy of it.
More importantly, she reminded us that we cannot exist in isolation. We must share resources and build community, fueling a continuous "cycle of dopeness" among fellow creators. Being in the presence of other passionate storytellers reminds us of our own "Divine calling and assignment and purpose".
Remember, friends, that "resiliency requires roots". As we navigate the peaks and valleys of our journeys, we must hold on to the understanding that living our life with spirituality, creativity, and service at the center grows our capacity to share in the bounty of this world.
Check out the full interview on YouTube and let Onyx's journey inspire your own.
Keep painting the masterpiece in the mirror.
Comments