Meet Jermesha “BUSY” Striblet-Holmes | Writer & Serial Entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jermesha “BUSY” Striblet-Holmes and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jermesha “BUSY”, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
Art, in all forms, allows us to say A LOT without sometimes having to “say” anything at all. It introduces us to hundreds and thousands of people before we even get the opportunity to meet face to face. It carries while we’re here and way after we’re long gone. Art and all other creative careers are very giving with the expectation of nothing in return besides interpretation and appreciation. Simple and complex. As a person who considers herself to be so many things: writer, visual artist, musical artists, fashion connoisseur, mentor, dancer, etc… choosing a creative career was very “on brand”. I love bringing things to life from just ideas. I love the look on peoples faces when they get to experience something I’ve created. I appreciate all feedback. I communicate at my BEST through creativity and art & simultaneously I’m much better understood. There’s not just one language in creativity, anyone from anywhere with any background could enjoy.

So, it’s the reach that artistic and creative careers have. This is why I pursued.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
First and foremost, I am a black woman from the west side of the best city in the world, Chicago. I am an author, with three books under my belt. I write both fiction and non-fiction and I’ve also written some poetry. I am also an event curator and host! I love socializing and creating spaces for people to just BE; good, safe, memorable and fun experiences. I also have my hand in a few other things such as modeling and music. I was known for my voice and my beauty long before I was recognized for my writing. I love it all. The journey was not easy, it was a ton of trial and error, loving something one second and hating it the next, fear, etc. But, my daily prayer through it all has been “Thank You for this journey, no matter how it ends.” I picked that line up from the movie “Queen & Slim” and it stuck with me. The biggest lesson in it all for me has been to be kind to myself in each phase. Because anything transitional is going to take away or add to you & none of that is going to be easy, so don’t make anything harder on yourself than it already is.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Food and Drinks : I love love seafood and right now my favorite spots are Low Country and Joe Willies Seafood Bar. I love wings so we’d most likely hit up one of my favorite “hood spots” lol. Chicago has great bars & I’ve partied at most of them & have yet to come across a “bad drink” but maybe Two Dots & A Dash or Joy District (they have really good Frozé’s). I love music so we’d stop by The Basement for something chill or hit a party one of my DJ friends is dj’ing at for the night.

It’s like a million other spots so we’d tackle as much as we could while they’re in town.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Sister Souljah & so many other black writers for giving me an escape from reality. My high school English Teacher who accepted my 10 page assignments that only required 2 pages lol
My two favorite young women & bestfriends, Kia Smith (Author) & Kalei Shaw (Owner of Melanated Candle)
Each of my therapists!
My community/My Family
“Sista’s” star Novi Brown, she was the first to welcome me into the world of writing AND purchase my first book
God, for sure. Always.

I think that covers it.

Website: BrownGirlProverb.com

Instagram: @_officialbusybrowngirl/@browngirlproverb

Youtube: The Official Busy Brown Girl

Image Credits
Tye Moore (@photyegraphy) Sterling Gilmore (@thenerdyshooter) Monique Byrd (@my.black.radiance)