About Me — Nia Simone McLeod
By: Nia Simone Mcleod
Tags: Introduction, Race, Self, About Me, Black Women

About Me — Nia Simone McLeod

My mom wanted to name me after singer-songwriter and civil rights activist Nina Simone. I’ve often been asked about my connection with the legendary musician from friends and coworkers due to our similar names.

Their eyes are wide and wondrous as they await my answer like they hope I say, “Well, duh, she’s my grand aunt. I used to spend summers with her in France. As a baby, she sang “Feeling Good” to me as a lullaby. It drifted me right on to sleep…”

Sadly, I am not related to Nina Simone.

Mom chose her as my semi-namesake because of Simone’s musical talent and passion for political activism.

Dad didn’t want me to be named after a famous person. I guessed that it would have had the same effect as them naming me Beyoncé, or something.

They compromised with Nia Simone. Nia means “purpose” in Swahili and is the fifth principle of the African-American holiday Kwanzaa. Simone kept my tie with Nina Simone.

I always wondered why I was drawn to the arts throughout my life. But, it’s clear that my affinity for the arts was written into the stars before I took my first breath.

My Love Affair With the Arts

My first love was music. Mom says that the first song I ever sang as a baby was Toni Braxton’s “Unbreak My Heart.”

During my childhood, I fawned over Black female singers like Beyoncé and Ciara — mesmerized by dreams of stardom.

I spent 10 years, from age 7 to age 16, in the choir. While I chased the pipe dream of superstardom, I fell in love with writing accidentally.

During elementary school, I began to write for fun after being introduced to a fanfiction forum of one of my favorite R&B groups at the time: B5.

That chance encounter began my (basically) lifelong writing journey.

Writing has always been present in my life. I’ve written books, poems, short stories, personal essays, and articles.

My writing has always been an outlet for me to tell my story as authentically as possible.

The Power of Telling the Whole Truth

“It’s an artist’s duty to reflect the times in which we live.” — Nina Simone

As a Black woman living in America, I’ve spent my entire life feeling lonely in experience and identity. Finding your fire is nearly impossible when the world is constantly trying to stomp it out.

American culture has always tried to erase the Black experience. It picks and chooses which parts of history it wants to bring light to and tries to put the rest in the dark — whether it’s in our history textbooks or through social media.

In my writing, I always try to be honest. Nobody can tell the story better than those who lived it. If I don’t tell my story — someone is damn sure going to do it for me. I ain’t having that. Not anymore.

My goal for each day is to live more aligned with my truth than I did the previous day. On Medium, I’m documenting that process in full time through the stories I share. I would love it if you followed me and joined me on my journey.

The topics I frequently write about on Medium are writing, culture, race, and poetry. But, I write about whatever grabs my attention.

If I want to write about Tik Tok dances one day and Greek mythology the next I’m going to do it — that’s my business. But, if you’re along for the ride I promise that I’ll always reflect the realities of the world in my work.

My semi-namesake Nina Simone has left shoes the size of the Grand Canyon to fill. If I only match 0.1% of her impact, I’ll have done something right.

Every day, I move closer and closer to that 0.1%. I’m confident it’ll happen one day.

My favorite stories I’ve written so far: