new platform, still yapping
don't call it a comeback...
Why am I nervous about starting over again? I’ve been overthinking what to write on here for a few days in terms of anything long-form/outside of notes because I have felt safe expressing myself and connecting with women who have similar interests to me. I did think that when no one interacted with my posts, I was unrelatable. To some, that may be true. You cannot relate to me, nor should anyone be able to relate to someone—let alone a stranger—on the internet. Then again, people feel like they relate to influencers all the time and live completely different lives than Monet McMichael and Alix Earle (& they live separate lives).
My purpose in writing this post is to reintroduce myself again on the internet for the umpteenth time, but hello! My name is Jazzenai. (jaz-zen-nay)
I am a college graduate and aspiring freelance writer. I work in tech and am getting certified in topics such as Digital Marketing, E-Commerce, and Journalism. Learning never stops, even when school’s out forever. I started this Substack because I saw everyone transitioning from TikTok to YouTube or even bowing their heads and going to Instagram Reels (yet, no one wanted to go back to Facebook after the 16-hour TikTok ban).
I started out here because I miss writing on my blog, whether it was incognito, inspired by several books and pieces of media that discussed a secret popular blog that talked about gossip regarding others around them. Me?
I just wanted somewhere to drop my input on reality TV shows I just watched, clips and trends that are on my mind, & guilty pleasures that I have nowhere else to talk about but maybe this Substack. This Substack is going to be more than blog posts and podcast episodes—this is going to be where I write notes, connecting with other Black women (or anyone who relates to me, but mainly BLACK WOMEN) that I can connect with, learn from, and be inspired to write more. I want this to be more than a blog or a hub for all my work. I want this to be a place where I can be myself and not worry about what others will think of me and my work.
I stopped trying to impress others years ago, and now??? I'm ready to be myself again and really write in my truth about whatever I please. The market is not saturated, and there is no such thing as “too many Black ____.”
We will always need Black writers, artists, UX/UI designers, UX/UI writers, coders, inventors, investors, doctors, engineers, psychiatrists, therapists, firefighters, lawyers, nurses, teachers, professors, congressmen, and even presidents. There will never be enough.
When I look in the mirror, I see a woman who can do anything. I see a woman who loves community amongst herself—whether that's through the conversation of reality TV, music, childhood stories, current events, cultural similarities, or whatever is on the docket that day. That’s Maybe It’s Me… this is a sliver of what there is to know about me.
This newsletter will be monthly for now. I need a proper schedule since I just arrived.
If you’ve made it this far, thank you for reading. I’m excited to share my thoughts, my work, and whatever else feels right. Here’s to creating a space where I can just be.
See you soon.
