Welcome BL Shirelle as Co-E.D.
Photos by Brian Goodwin
June 19, 2022
I am humbled to formally announce I will be joining Fury Young as Co-Executive Director of Die Jim Crow Records. This has been a long time coming, and I have so many folks to thank, but first let me expound on how this even became possible. In the year 2015, if someone would have said, "Hey, you and that white guy with the long hair are going to turn that album you wrote for into a non-profit record label for justice-impacted musicians".... well, I probably would've been a tad bit curious of what they were smoking! (Along with asking them to pass it along lol.) Never in my wildest dreams did I envision writing "Headed to the Streets" would lead to all of this. Partly because I never dreamed wild enough.
Some of you know my life story, and if you don't there's plenty of press out there if you're interested. All my life I had aided society in my own downfall, succumbing to every statistic mass incarceration had to offer but death. By the age of 27 I was very close to that end, as I am a survivor of a police shooting, I've served a decade in prison, and there wasn't much left on the other side of the law for me. I've seen it play out hundreds of times yet and still I couldn't shake the feeling of my outcome being the same. I'm no more talented than Rip – my first childhood friend to die of gun violence at age 14, may he rest in peace – or Fat Shanda – my friend who died of a police shooting while unarmed, may she rest in peace.
But music… the sweet sound, writing… my personal therapy, the only escape I indulged in that never harmed me, rescued me at what seemed to be the last possible second. The thing I would do for free – for pure enjoyment, or process of emotion – saved my ass.
As I begin this new stage of my life, heading the communications and development departments of DJC while splitting programming with Fury, I have tons of things to learn. Sometimes I wonder, am I good enough? Am I professional enough? Am I smart enough? In a mentorship conversation with Allyn Steele, Co-Executive Director of Highlander Center, he shared advice that always plays back in my head: "Never forget that you belong here." I say that to myself a hundred times if I have to and press on, press on learning, teaching, failing and accomplishing.
In the moments where that speech isn't enough, I have my constituents. They make me want to be the best ED I can be. I know they're watching, they trust me; I also know I'm a source of inspiration for them whether they know it or not. I do not take this opportunity for granted. I believe Die Jim Crow Records will be a historic entity in the very near future… shit, to me, it already is. It's interesting ya know… having a professional trajectory based on your personal experiences. It's fulfilling, and sometimes emotionally draining because for me, it's one hundred percent PERSONAL.
There are millions of BL Shirelle’s out here in different stages of their lives: incarceration, abuse, addiction, destructive family dynamics… There's someone right now laying on concrete bleeding from gunshot wounds, going in and out of consciousness. There's a child being abused when the night falls. They're both fighting with everything in them not to close their eyes. It's hard to dream wild if you're too scared to blink.
So here I am with all the scars, some wounds still open because every day is one of healing. I'm here to hold the door open for the next me, I'm here to pour into society as much as I've drained. To my constituents – WE HERE! Not only do I solemnly swear to represent you to the best of my ability, I also promise to actively take part in curating your success. I am no more capable than you.
I want to thank my wife for encouraging me to make music even though I felt it was too late to start a rap career, for working fifty hours a week so I could work part time to put more effort into this mission, for funding countless hours of studio time, wardrobe, and anything else my heart desired. This is the return on your investment. I want to personally thank Die Jim Crow's Founder Fury Young, my brother, for taking a chance on me, for seeing things in me that I did not see and making it your business to nourish those talents. I have learned so much from you and will continue to. To Mary Hamrick, thank you for making it possible for me to get paid to do what I love. Your support has been such a blessing to me and my family and I truly love you. Thank you to the DJC Board of Directors, staff, volunteers, and most importantly the SUPPORTERS!! You all have truly changed my life. Now… thanks to you all, it's time for me to get to work 💪🏾💯
Sincerely,
Co-Executive Director
