My art gets called political, as opposed to my intending it to be political. I think that's something that happens with black artists or marginalized voices trying to speak truth. Because there are things in the status quo to speak… — Jamila Woods Copy Share Image
Me and my three younger siblings, we sang together in grandma's church, and I was in the Chicago Children's Choir in high school, but… — Jamila Woods Copy Share
My mentor made me say a poem over and over. 'Stop! That's not your voice. Start again.' I was sobbing by the end, but… — Jamila Woods Copy Share
The lake was always my orienting point when my dad was teaching me how to not get lost. The lake is east, so you'll… — Jamila Woods Copy Share
They say Chicago is for haters. No one will just sweat each other and say, 'Oh, you're so good,' if you're not. Which is… — Jamila Woods Copy Share
I read 'Song of Solomon' by Toni Morrison in college, and it just blew my mind. — Jamila Woods Copy Share
I really value what Closed Sessions is doing to build the Chicago music scene and am excited to partner with them for my first… — Jamila Woods Copy Share
In some ways, I value specificity. I think that there's power in, once you know who your fan base is, being able to speak… — Jamila Woods Copy Share
A lot of people get Chicago wrong. I've developed this protective feeling about how we're portrayed, and at the same time, I'm acutely aware… — Jamila Woods Copy Share
I think of music as creating a space. I like to put things in that are comforting to me and are nostalgic. To me,… — Jamila Woods Copy Share
I don't know if it's because I grew up in Beverly or my friends, but I listened to a lot of alternative rock music.… — Jamila Woods Copy Share
My hope is that 'Blk Girl Soldier' is a freedom song for black women today who are fighting the macro- and microaggressions of daily… — Jamila Woods Copy Share
I like to borrow forms and quotes and use a lot of allusions, in both poetry and music. — Jamila Woods Copy Share
I started writing poems on a Xanga page. I always loved writing. I also had a Deviant Art page, actually, because my crush had… — Jamila Woods Copy Share
