(ThyBlackMan.com)You could say this piece goes hand in hand with our piece about passing on your knowledge. No, it isn’t about passing on creative skills but it is about creating something that can be viewed decades or so down the line. Perhaps even after we’re gone. However, your later years aren’t the focus, what is the focus involves being consistent in creating.
Creative Black Men: Never Stop Creating
It’s a fairly common sight for Black folks—particularly Black men: when you’re younger and have time to explore, develop, create, and refine your craft. However, as you age and you get more social, personal, financial, and professional responsibility, unless your creativity brought you to the dance—it’s taking a back seat.
I say “taking a back seat” but if we’re being real: many end up having no time to pursue their creative interests as an in-the-work-trenches adult. Expenses don’t rest and you can’t get tired. That’s the loop. Only we get tired and time that could be used for creating or honing goes to getting rest and whatever recreational activity we can squeeze in on our off days.
That’s also time to enjoy the company of those around you. Depending on the medium or project, creating something can be a solo activity. In 2021, I was usually in the room with my younger brother while we wrote pieces for AfroGamers and ThyBlackMan—however, I’ve done my writing alone for all but that year since 2010. Any creative project, I’m simply not a fan of having an audience while I’m working on it.
For some creative brothers, they can do with an audience and some arts or mediums such as stage/set performance, studio work, online broadcasting, and so on simply come with an audience. I mean, you’re expected to entertain right there if scheduled to do so.
This is something to note: if your work involves creativity—you’re fine. You’re probably not stopping for a while unless there’s an experience that prevents you from doing what you do. For those don’t get to indulge their art craft often or at all, I remind you of what that camp counselor told me decades ago:
“Use It Before You Lose It”
Now, at different ages that phrase hits differently. As an 11-year-old all I knew was that I wanted to draw comic books. That’s it. I had no idea of the education or how to break into comics at all. I’d draw characters and send them into Marvel and DC hoping to be included in the fan art section and whatnot. I was going to keep drawing because it was fun and my imagination was—and still is—wild.
Then you get to the age where you got to consider what to do: work? School? Both? Military service? Travel a bit then tackle it? In my case, it was comics or wrestling and I couldn’t afford wrestling school—so graphic design school it was.
By that time “Use it before you lose it” made a ton of sense because I realized I continue to draw because there’s people who enjoy it. They want to see more or what stories I come up with—plus it was free to read. Once work stepped in, I slacked up on drawing and focused more on teaching while writing in my free time.
This isn’t just about keeping up a talent you used to have. It’s knowing you have so much creative energy, so many stories to tell that you could take a break from your familiar trappings and explore another art form. Personally, I believe all creative people are capable of dabbling in different arts it just takes time to look into it and time to see where you want to go with it.
Then there’s the time spent creating. Sure, it might take away from music production or painting but you’ve added standup comedy and podcasting! Plus, you might find another art is more suitable for the time you and resources you can invest at that time.
Being flexible in how you express your creativity can help continue creating.
Staff Writer; M. Swift
This talented writer is also a podcast host, and comic book fan who loves all things old school. One may also find him on Twitter at; metalswift.
