I got you, babe! I gotchu!
As I mentioned in a previous newsletter, I was in a funk because of so many rejections recently.
I was disappointed in not gaining more access, more exposure, more funding. I was bummed, but what was I gonna do? NOT do my work? That’s ridiculous. So I tapped into what I DO have. I got you, babe!
I asked everyone to spread the good word about my work. (Word of mouth is the most effective way to promote/publicize). You know what? SO many people already do spread the good word about my work and many had some truly lovely and encouraging things to say! I had no idea. I felt so good.
YOU are my foot soldiers! Thank you!
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This post in the Podcaster’s Digest gave me goosebumps.
Every once in a while, I get an email that makes me stop, take a breath, and feel something. Not the kind of email that’s asking for downloads or follows or “engagement”—but one that reminds me why we do this. Why storytelling matters.
This week, that email came from WOC Podcasters member Yhane Washington Smith.
If you don’t know her name, you should. She’s the creative mind behind Harlem Queen, and after years of self-producing her own audio dramas, here’s what she just shared:
🎬 She’s been selected for the Tribeca Festival
🎓 Named a Bundles Scholar at Columbia
🎤 Earned fellowships from AIR Media and NYSCA
🌟 Made history as the first person to write and direct an audio play at Penn State
🎧 And now? She’s been tapped by a major Hollywood studio to write the feature film on Madame Stephanie St. Clair—the real-life Harlem queenpin who inspired her audio series.
Her ask? Not for donations. Not for clout. Just this:
“Tell one person about my work. Or tell me something good.”
Tell someone about a podcast you love. A professor. A producer. A newsletter. A publication. A drama department. A TikTok account. A vibe. Anything that aligns.
Because word of mouth is still the most powerful form of support—especially for Black and brown creators.
Why It Matters
Yhane is living proof of what’s possible when we create outside of the gatekeeping machine—and why this community matters.
And it’s a reminder that you don’t need a big budget, viral campaign, or blue check to make an impact.
You just need to believe in your story—and be bold enough to share it.
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Two days after asking everyone to shout me out, I learned that I got a grant from the Puffin Foundation!
I’m on my way to raising the money to make the fifth and final season of “Harlem Queen”! Yay!
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I had a lovely cultural weekend.
On Saturday, I saw Buena Vista Social Club, the musical. On Sunday, I went to see the Superfine: Tailoring Black Style exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I recommend the exhibit and the musical.
This year’s Met Gala theme was Superfine: Tailoring Black Style. The gala raised $31 million dollars, the highest amount raised in the history of the gala.
Nothing like a little art to help you feel good!
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At the exhibit, I learned about James Forten, (September 2, 1766 – March 4, 1842).
This guy was no joke. Born a freeman in Philadelphia, he became wealthy by making sails. When he was 14 years old, during the Revolutionary War, he was a prisoner of war and imprisoned in Brooklyn for nearly a year. He WALKED from Brooklyn to Philadelphia to be reunited with his mother and sister! Can you see that scene in a movie?!
But what fascinates me about his story and what I didn’t know was that the abolitionists were fierce! Abolitionists were wealthy Black folks (like Forten) escaped slaves (like Douglas and Tubman) and white folks like Lloyd Garrison who worked together for many years, founding newspapers, giving speeches, influencing legislature, while raising their families, providing education, jobs…all of the things for their communities. I’m exhausted just reading about them! They did this work for years.
There’s an incredible period in U.S. history, which I know very little about; the period from around 1800 up to 1865. Yes, slavery was robust at that time, but so were the abolitionists AND at that time there was a movement of Black folks on a mission to go back to Africa, Haiti and other places.
Now I’m going on a research dive. If you have any book or article recommendations, please drop in the comments. Thank you! I absolutely LOVE learning about these incredible folks. In simple terms, I feel if they could do what they did in spite of the bullshit they had to put up with, so can I. My dream is always to transform my research into a story for you. Give me a minute to get this done. I gotchu!
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Thank you for reading, sharing, talking, asking!
Love,
Yhane
Help me make my work!
Here is the Patreon link:
https://www.patreon.com/c/harlemqueen
Here is the Ko-Fi link:
https://ko-fi.com/yhanewashingtonsmith