| Kameisha Jerae | |
|---|---|
Kameisha Jerae on a photoshoot |
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| Born | November 1, 1989 Washington, D.C., USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Lafayette College |
| Occupation | Author, Writer, Poet, Spoken Word Artist |
Kameisha Jerae Hodge (pronounced /kəmiːʃə dʒɛreɪ hɒdʒ/) was born on November 1, 1989 and is an African American writer from Washington, D.C. Rising to prominence in 2007, her activity in the literary and media communities became promising. Kameisha became locally recognized and continued writing - delving mostly into journalism and creative writing. Yolonda Coleman discovered Kameisha's talents in 2005 and placed her as the Editor-In-Chief for Friendship Collegiate Academy Public Charter School's Knight Vision Newspaper where, from there, her work appeared in national media including MTV [1], NPR, and Georgetown Journal of Law & Modern Critical Race Perspectives, just to name a few. In 2010, Kameisha's first collection of poetry, Atlas of Consciousness, was published. As of now, Kameisha is working on her newest book, Atlas of Consciousness II: Second Nature, and is doing book tours, poetry readings, and guest speaking.
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Kameisha was the first-born child to an eighteen year old couple who had just graduated from District of Columbia public high schools. Their names are Sabrina Latrice Hodge and Aron Antonio Cunningham. While her father was inactive in her life, it did not seem to bother her that her mother singlehandedly raised her and two of her siblings (DeAndre Hodge and Jonae Hodge), but it did bother her that her father took a minimal role in her life, and the lives of a few of the older children that Aron helped conceive [2]. Living in Washington, D.C. up until the eighth grade, Kameisha moved with her fraternal grandparents and sister, where she became a volunteer for the Columbia Park / Kentland Community Center. Moving back with her mother a year later, she began signed up with the Department of Employment Services' Youth Employment Program and worked at the Office of the Attorney General as a File Clerk, with Friendship Collegiate Academy Public Charter School as an Advanced Placement Literature and Composition Intern, and finally as an Editor and Reporter for Rated-T Magazine.
While at Lafayette, Kameisha has been dedicated to youth advocacy by working at the DC Public Library as a journalism instructor, and volunteer reading buddy for 6 - 10 year olds for the Book Buddies program. She also had been skilled enough to work at MTV in the department that catered specifically to shows on the N network. She also was the founder and president of Lafayette College's Precision Step Team, first president of the African and Caribbean Interest Floor[3] on the executive boards for the Association of Black Collegians, W.O.R.D.S. (Writing Organization Reaching Dynamic Students), and a member of NIA (Women's Empowerment). Kameisha also had co-hosted a show on the college's radio station, WJRH 104.9, and worked as a student employee. Because of her drive and passion for creating an environment that catered to the Arts, passion for writing, and black solidarity, Kameisha was featured on Lafayette College's webpage several times [4], in addition to their YouTube channel [5], and McDonough Network Publications.
Kameisha plans to work with local D.C. artists such as Es.Love, Ace the Time, Chris Barz, Nike Nando, RA the MC, Mambo Sauce, Black Norbit, House Studio D.C. and DC Rap to create a summer arts program for young adults entering college. This program, according to Kameisha, would entail working with the DC Arts and Humanities Education Collaborative and the District of Columbia's Commission on Arts and Humanities to nurture and foster the Arts in Washington.
Kameisha has attended nine schools throughout the duration of her life, these schools included Ephriam Kimball Elementary School, John Phillip Sousa Middle School, Bertie Backus Middle School, General G. James Gholson Middle School, Bladensburg High School, Potomac High School, Friendship Collegiate Academy Public Charter School and the University of District of Columbia simultaneously as a student in the Early College Program, and is pursuing a Bachelor's Degree in the Arts at Lafayette College.
"Struggles are always going to try to hold you down. Just keep your head up."
"You look at my skin and sneer. But remember, we ain't ask to be here."
"like a shadow, you mimic and let rap turn martyrs to heathens while priding themselves on division."
"prove that heaven is up above us cuz all i see is hell around me, so what on earth is the purpose?"
"i walk through the corridors of memories, a journey i’m forced to travel alone."