We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Tiffany “Ebony Eyze” Broadwater a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Tiffany “Ebony Eyze”, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
Reflecting on this question, I can honestly say that my purpose found me. One of my favorite quotes comes from author Mark Twain – “The two most important days in your life are the day you were born and the day you find out why.” I have had a love for spoken word since I was 9 years old. As a child, I realized that words are infused with the power to uplift and heal in love, but can be manipulated to hurt and destroy with malice. In adolescence, I carried weight as this soft-spoken girl with thick glasses, asthma, low self-esteem and little social development. I was not able to articulate my feelings well for fear of being teased or outcasted. Although I was raised in a household filled with love, faith and encouragement, those persistent forces eventually surrendered to my own inhibitions. I felt the need to prove myself as if people’s expectations were a Nobel Peace Prize. Depression bounded me to the point where I forgot three affirmative words – YOU ARE ENOUGH.
As inner-city educators and nurturers, my mother and aunt were blessed with the ability to fill the needs of children. Placing pen and paper in my hand, they gave me a blank canvas to fill with all the joy, pain, fears, guilt, shame, regret, confusion and anger that I bottled for so long. Whatever I couldn’t say out loud, I could say on paper. I was exposed to a community of Arts – creative writing, illustration, animation and dance – that helped me view life through a different lens. Then, there was poetry. I attended local workshops at Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning (JCAL) and The Center for Culture: Afrikan Poetry Theatre, Inc in Queens, NY. The bold and free expression I witnessed on stage with supportive reaction from the crowd gave me confidence and courage to speak my truth. Nervously, I walked out into the spotlight and shared my bottled views with the world. No rotten tomatoes thrown. In that moment, I found my gift.
Every chapter after, I noticed people would talk to me out of the blue. There would be random encounters of strangers revealing their stories, often times heavy to digest. On the brink of being laid off, I chose to take a job in social services. I didn’t know that what was intended to be a temporary source of income would be a permanent source of inspiration. There were people like myself who carried storms behind their smiles looking for someone to let them in from the rain. Others came defensive and without a smile, hoping someone would justify their pain. At night, I would perform poetry on stage at different venues, dreaming to hit it big one day. Between lines of cigarette smoke and tequila shots, conversations with starving artists let me know that, no matter the environment, we all are the same.
I guess what Picasso claimed is true. I found the meaning of life when I found my gift of spoken word that day. My purpose found me when I was brave enough to give it away.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
To know me, is to peel back so many layers. I have been performing as a poet, spoken word artist and songwriter, for the past 20 years. I have a eye for graphic design and a passion for blending art forms to make real connections with my audience. With three poetry albums and over 125,000 streams worldwide, I’ve always aimed to use my platform to share messages of hope, love, and social awareness. I love weaving powerful storytelling with visuals and music, creating an experience that’s memorable. My journey was shaped by studying local talents and professional storytellers like Nikki Giovanni and the late Dr. Maya Angelou. My inspiration? A mix of faith, life complexities, and the deep human connections we all share.
In April 2022, I started Atagia Entertainment LLC, an entertainment company that provides artists from different walks of life with a platform to produce content that invites the world to reflect on social issues and share their stories. As a subsidiary, my brand Innovate Loud focuses on building a safe, online learning space for new creatives to use their craft to rewrite past trauma and perform their stories on stage as a way to heal, earn income and inspire audiences. My mission goes beyond just creating—I seek to promote well-being in the field of performing arts, ensuring all artists have a safe community to be authentic, transparent and empowered. We will be offering online books, self-study mentorship programs as well as monthly one-on-one online sessions so that creatives are never alone on their artistic journey.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
As I reflect on my artistic and entrepreneurial career, three qualities that were most impactful in my journey were passion, commitment, and resilience. Passion fueled my drive and kept me going through the ups and downs, making the hard work feel worthwhile. Commitment allowed me to stay consistent and dedicated to my goals, even when progress felt slow. And resilience gave me the strength to bounce back from setbacks, learning from failures instead of letting them stop me.
For anyone starting out on a bold journey, I’d recommend taking time to get clear about what you really want and why it matters to you. When your “why” is strong, it will pull you forward, even when things get tough. Set a goal so big it scares you, pushes you beyond your comfort zone and helps you grow. As a woman of faith, I hold on to the belief in a greater power giving me purpose. However, it’s not enough to believe; you have to take consistent action toward your vision. Follow the law of the 5 P’s: proper preparation prevents poor performance. Stay prepared, keep learning, and put in the time to get things right. Lastly, find ways to turn your wounds into wisdom. Failure is a part of success. Every challenge has the potential to teach you something powerful if you let it.
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
When I feel overwhelmed, I take a step back and focus on self-care to reset my mind and body. Sometimes it’s as simple as going for a walk or run to get some fresh air and clear my head. I also turn to prayer or meditation, which helps me center myself and regain a sense of calm. When things feel particularly heavy, I’ll schedule a spa day or even plan a weekend getaway to fully recharge and take care of myself.
I’ve also learned the importance of delegating tasks when I’m stretched too thin. Tedious things like emails or filing, and even more complex tasks in which others are more skilled, are areas where asking for help is beneficial. It allows me to focus on what I do best while still getting everything done. It’s all about knowing when to step back and give yourself the space to breathe.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ebonyeyze.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/innovateloud/
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/innovateloud/
- Twitter: https://x.com/innovateloud
- Youtube: https://m.youtube.com/@InnovateLoud-i7g
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3yLwhhZaP6Oin4T9VTEC3y?si=KiYunEdOTZOn48hcJZSu_A
Image Credits
Shawn “Live” Johnson
Devon Stone
Shootwithhaz
Crystal Notez
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