Starting Your Dreams Later In Life and Embracing the Detour

Jenee Darden speaking at Creative Mornings I know it's been a while since I've posted anything but that's because of my job. I'm working as a reporter covering Oakland and I host an arts segment on the radio where I get to interview amazing artists from around the Bay Area. Plus I'm publicizing my book  and building my speaking career!  You know what's funny? I thought this would all happen by the time I was 27-30.  Nope. That wasn't God's plan for me. I'm finally beginning to do the things I've wanted to do and I'm almost 40 years old. Some people reading this who are 40 will say 40 is still young. But some younger people reading may think 40 is nearly ancient. But I'm writing this post for those who like me, thought their career and personal dreams would come true much early in life. I'm here to tell you not to give up.  You know, death inspires life. A number of my relatives and friends have passed away, ranging in
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Cocoa Fly Featured as a BGN Girl in BlackGirlNerds.com

Jenee Darden
I love the website Black Girl Nerds. The title is pretty self explanatory. The website covers all kinds of issues of interests to the black and nerdy sistas. I got picked on in school because I was a nerd. I told Black Girl Nerds founder Jamie Broadnax that I wish this website was around when I was a kid. Of course when I was a kid, there was no commercial-use internet.

The great thing about being a nerd is that it usually pays off once you grow up. And you even get to be featured as a BGN Girl, as I am. It saddens me that in my community, some people label intelligence as a "white thing." Remember when Michelle Obama talked to school girls about being told she "talked like a white girl" because she spoke proper English as a kid? I heard the same thing from kids and adults when I was growing up. How unfortunate SOME of us associate being smart as a "white thing" when black people have contributed so much to mathematics, science, medicine and the arts. We would be crashing into each other on the road constantly if Garrett Morgan had not invented the traffic signal. God bless Dr. Charles Drew because there wouldn't be blood banks if it weren't for his genius. And don't get me started on the mathematic brilliance of the Ancient Egyptians. Octavia Butler, Phillis Wheatley, Mary McCleod Bethune and Ida B. Wells were all bright women. And I could name more.  

Intelligence isn't strictly a "white thing."  My parents taught me about black history. If more people knew their roots, I don't think some people would be as quick to say someone is "acting white" because they're curious and want to learn.

Check out the post on BlackGirlNerds.com when I talk about being a nerd and a geek. I unapologetically love comic books, PBS, libraries, documentaries, NPR, museums, history, writing and office supply stores. That's who I am and I'm just fine.

Thank you again to Black Girl Nerds for featuring me.

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