Meet Marcus Dickerson

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Marcus Dickerson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Marcus, so good to have you with us today. We’ve got so much planned, so let’s jump right into it. We live in such a diverse world, and in many ways the world is getting better and more understanding but it’s far from perfect. There are so many times where folks find themselves in rooms or situations where they are the only ones that look like them – that might mean being the only woman of color in the room or the only person who grew up in a certain environment etc. Can you talk to us about how you’ve managed to thrive even in situations where you were the only one in the room?
I was raised in Kansas City, KS and went to college at the University of Kansas. I majored in English and in my program I was one of three Black students out of around two hundred. I know a LOT about being the only one in the room who looks like me. My skin tone can be stated that I’ve been “kissed by the sun”, and so people always notice me when I walk into the room. Throughout my lifetime a figurative record has scratched when I walk in certain spaces and this is the time that I use to command attention. If you are uncomfortable with me being in the room simply by how I look, then you are already clay in my hand and I can use that to mold you into how I would like for you to perceive me. My skin tone comes with preconceived notions, and biases that I always break when I speak. I do what one simply should do in those circumstances, and that is work the room. Start conversations and give people a glimpse into your person-hood and that usually wins them over. I am a relatable person who knows a little about a lot and that surprises the majority. As a writer, I have to have a skill set of listening and quickly adapting to situations when the odds are stacked against me.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
My name is Marcus Dickerson and I am an author. I have written two books: “It’s Hit the Fan: A Disheveled Mind in Print” that was released in 2019 and “September 22nd” that was released in 2021. I am extremely proud of those bodies of work because I put my heart and soul into them. They are quintessential representations of my life during the time period.. I am also extremely proud to say that I am a self-published author and I love the fact that I own every single part of my book. Ownership is extremely important to me because as a millennial, I’ve watched enough re-runs of “Behind the Music” to know better. I love being able to express myself creatively, on my own time because I don’t write everyday. I like to experience life and then take nuggets from those experiences and incorporate them into my works. I am also pursuing voice-over acting and expanding my palate in this new space. This new career is exciting and scary all at once and I cannot wait to delve deeper and make a name for myself.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Resilience, compassion and empathy are the top three skills that are most impactful in my journey. I know how it feels to not have a voice and I also know how it feels to be ignored and not believed. Most people just want someone who actually listens to them and I have developed that skill early on in my life and it has been a golden ticket. I have been through a lot in my life and I believe it is extremely important to give people a voice. That voice empowers people to becoming the best version of themselves in all aspects of their lives. In any journey, you have to give yourself the grace to make the mistakes necessary in order to become a master of your craft. Learning from those mistakes and not gatekeeping information from others is the key in becoming a well-rounded master teacher. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and utilize your resources!

Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?
When I feel overwhelmed, I pray. I seek the Word and ask God for His guidance. I seek wise counsel and ask them for advice to see if I’m on my way to making a costly mistake, or one of the best decisions of my life.

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