We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Promise McCree a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Promise, first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
I overcame my imposter syndrome by realizing that this is my life. I took control by understanding that trusting myself and believing in myself are two of the most important qualities I could ever develop. Consistency became my foundation.
There were moments I questioned myself, even when I knew I was in the first stages of healing. Physically, I shouldn’t have even been on that stage, but the eagerness to reclaim my purpose was stronger than the fear. I felt inadequate because I had never faced something that risked my voice, the very thing that defines my evolution.
That experience taught me urgency, not the kind fueled by perfectionism but by gratitude. I learned that not everyone will be impressed, and that’s not my responsibility. My duty is to honor this second chance at life and make it one for the books, a living testament to resilience, faith, and purpose.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
My name is Promise Noelle, poet, spoken word artist, author, and educator. My work exists at the intersection of art, healing, and purpose. Through my poetry, books, and community initiatives, I aim to create spaces that inspire authenticity, emotional awareness, and transformation.
One of the most fulfilling chapters of my journey was my time teaching youth through Let The Beat Build/Big Thought. It was an experience that strengthened my role not only as a mentor and music specialist but also as a lifelong learner. Working alongside young creatives reminded me to always be intentional. I strive to be intentional with what I do, the words I write, the words I speak, and how I deliver them. That experience shaped one of my core principles: authenticity is not just a choice; it is a way of life.
This December 2025, I will graduate with my Master’s in Criminology from the Grambling State University. A huge milestone that adds another profound layer to my ongoing journey of healing and becoming. It is a moment that represents resilience, tenacity, and faith. To me, this degree is not just an academic achievement; it is living proof of my strength and my continued commitment to evolving, learning, and honoring the woman I have become.
What excites me most about what I do is the connection. I love the ability to use art and storytelling to reach people on a deeper level. My latest release, On the Way to Becoming: In the Words of the Poet I Am, is both a reflection guide and a poetry book. It captures the spirit of awakening, struggle, growth, healing, and transformation. It is a love letter to resilience and the beauty found in becoming.
Professionally, I am focused on expansion through new creative projects that blend poetry, education, songwriting and community advocacy. Through my publishing imprint, Black Poets Society, I continue building platforms that empower and amplify voices with stories that deserve to be heard.
Most recently, one of my clients released a children’s book earlier this month titled Not Just ABCs or 123s to Impress, This is My Best for Success. This project reminds me why I love what I do: helping others bring their vision to life while spreading messages that uplift and inspire.
Ultimately, everything I create, teach, or share comes back to one truth. Purpose can be born from pain, and every word, every performance, and every book is a reminder that healing is both personal and collective, and that is what makes it so powerful.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
The first lesson that transformed my journey was understanding that I am not in control. The wisdom I’ve gained as both a woman and an individual comes from embracing discernment and learning to find peace in the decisions I make. God has guided me through moments of uncertainty and clarity, reminding me that His plan is always greater than mine. This awareness has grounded me in gratitude, helping me honor this second chance at life that I’ve been blessed with.
The second realization is that people cannot read your mind. It’s unfair to expect others to meet standards or fulfill expectations that were never communicated, no matter how real they may feel to you. I’ve learned this firsthand. For a long time, I ignored the expectations I felt others placed on me because I had created a reality where I was seen as the “poster child of strength.” But in truth, that was just a reflection of my ego. I eventually had to release the need to be perceived a certain way and learn to be seen for who I truly am. In that process, I found myself longing to be seen as “normal,” until I realized that nothing about my life has ever been normal—and that’s what makes it divine. My advice to others would be to embrace your own uniqueness, that one-of-a-kind je ne sais quoi that sets you apart. The earlier you learn to stand in that truth, the freer you become.
The third quality that continues to shape my path is recognizing that I have the power to change my reality. God has blessed me with everything I need to persevere, succeed, and fulfill the purposes He places before me. Through that faith, I am breaking generational patterns often associated with many African American families. My story, my resilience, and my healing are planting new seeds—seeds of gratitude, strength, and abundance that will nourish the generations after me. Their lives will be filled with the light of lessons learned, prayers answered, and love that outlives time.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
I mean this with all love, respect, and gratitude for how she’s inspired and impacted me. Erykah Badu has truly carried pride—Dallas, Texas pride, to be specific. Not only through being from here, but by staying active in and deeply connected to the same communities that have continued to support her. Remaining authentic to your roots while continuing to evolve is both beautiful and necessary. Being the earth sign that I am, I value that deeply and warmly.
We share incredibly talented, musically inclined producers and even attended the same university, with shared grassroots and community involvement. The bookstore where I co-hosted mental health workshops and weekly artistic showcases is owned by one of her dearest friends, and it’s the same space where we built connections, conversations, and healing through art. That in itself was such a full-circle moment.
Poetry, at the core of it all, has always been the language that connects our worlds—past, present, and future. Timing is everything, and I truly believe that when the moment aligns, our collaboration will be one that is soul-soothing, healing, and deeply moving to experience.
Overall, I’m open to intentional and ordained collaborations that are aligned for me to create and embellish in.
Contact Info:
- Website: Promise Noelle
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepromisenoellee?igsh=OG0wMzdyNm9qdjZo&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: Promise McCree
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/promise-mccree-ba7183210?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
- Youtube: https://youtu.be/xpkBumm3vbw?si=QtY9LP4wF-Uz4M3n
Image Credits
@1400visuals on Instagram (Da’Von Anderson)
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
