In this episode of the Durham Artist Archive, I had the pleasure of chatting with Destiny Hemphill, a vibrant poet, activist, and ritual worker whose contributions are woven into the fabric of Durham’s community.
I first met Destiny on a sunny Sunday afternoon after “church.” I put church in quotes because if you’ve attended a Sunday Service at North Star Church of the Arts, you know it’s anything but traditional. Their gatherings often take the form of workshops, inviting us to explore ourselves and discover how we can best serve our community—whether through dance, crafts, or even a flower-arranging session. No matter the format, I always left with a word.
After the service, two friends and I headed to a nearby restaurant for lunch. Being a Sunday afternoon during the lunch rush, the place was busy with little seating available apart from their communal spaces. So we ended up sharing a picnic table with some familiar faces from the service. That’s where I met Destiny and her friends. The six of us connected over the service, poutine and bad cauliflower wings, and enjoyed the summer breeze. We were strangers becoming quick friends. During our conversation, Destiny's book ‘Motherworld’ came up, and I made a mental note to check it out. That week, I purchased her book and it quickly became my go-to for bibliomancy, reflection, and journaling inspiration.
So, I was thrilled to have Destiny as a guest on the podcast. Having lived with her work for over a year, I finally had the chance to dive into it with her. During our conversation, Destiny shared her journey as a Black Southern daughter and the profound impact community organizing has had on her life and poetry. We also discussed the changes Durham has undergone, particularly the effects of gentrification on the artist community—a recurring theme in several episodes of this podcast.
Exploring Motherworld and her other publications was of course a highlight for me. We engaged in a thoughtful discussion about their themes of grief, religious influences, and the power of poetry as a form of spell casting. 🪄
We wrapped up our chat by brainstorming ways communities can uplift poets and the crucial role of mutual aid in fostering creativity. Being one of the longer episodes at almost an hour, there is so much goodness and thought provoking discussion here. I found this episode extremely reflective and one I’ll probably have to listen to again with a pen and paper on hand. There’s a depth to it that I struggle to articulate with words right now.
But if you’re interested in…
The significance of mutual aid and community support for artists and poets.
The transformative power of poetry in addressing personal and collective grief.
The impact of gentrification on Durham's artist community and the importance of preserving cultural spaces.
Then this episode is definitely for you! You can listen on Substack, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts. And when you do, please subscribe and leave a comment—I’d love to hear your thoughts on the episode. 🪄
Listen to the Pod:
Connect with Destiny Hemphill:
https://www.destinyhemphill.com
https://actionbooks.org/destiny-hemphill-motherworld/
Connect with me:
https://www.instagram.com/alwhyssa/
https://www.instagram.com/womanifestomag/
Additional Details:
Sponsored by VAE Raleigh and their Snapdragon Grant
Recorded at Queeny's in Durham
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