Why They Write
When I was a child, my class had a Christmas party, and my grandmother came with her security detail, Gloria and Troy. Born in 1996, I essentially grew up with the security detail around my grandmother who is the state attorney the Baltimore from 1995 to 2011. When teachers would ask me about my grandmother and her accomplishments completely oblivious, I would answer “my Nana made crabcakes the other night.” When I asked my Nana about why she writes Patricia Jessamy states that writing has always been a vehicle for accountability, truth and reform.
When my Nana was younger growing up in segregated Hollandale, Mississippi, her and a few friends attempted to integrate the local theater as African Americans were only allowed to sit in the upper balcony. As my grandmother and her friends sat in the lower section attempting to integrate, the theater, blurred the movie, haunting my grandmother and her friends a service they paid for based on discrimination. My Nana and her family became part of a lawsuit and eventually became part of Brown vs The Board of Education. My Nana always said that this incident and the consequences of it were the impetus for her wanting to become a lawyer and use writing as a mechanism ensure justice and truth. When my Nana writes, she writes with the same passion, precision, and integrity that defined not just her childhood, but also her years of public service. My Nana has two office spaces in her home, one in the kitchen that’s full of clutter and another space in the basement that’s more organized; both spaces surrounded by framed certificates, pictures of presidents, and newspaper clippings, highlighting her long tenure as Baltimore’s top prosecutor. My Nana still writes her rough drafts by hand, and she says writing by hand helps her gather her thoughts and think before she speaks. Growing up watching my grandmother I learned that writing is not an act of reflection, but also a form of valuable communication as it’s always been her tool for processing emotions, deciphering facts, and crafting messages with care. Regardless of the setting, my Nana believes that writing holds weight. Whether it’s mentoring young attorneys or drafting speeches or words, always aim to inspire and motivate. That level of deliberateness and poise mirrors a lifetime of determination a trait that served her well in the courtroom.
As I interviewed my grandmother, she was preparing dinner and pouring her daily glass of Chardonnay. Asked her “Nana, why do you write?” She answered “First, I write because I love expressing myself in that way, but I also write because writing can be used as a vehicle to protect the public.” She emphasizes that during her 16 years in office, writing serve three different purposes. First, my Nana stated “if it isn’t written, then it doesn’t exist” a saying that I heard for years growing up. Pat Jessamy has always proclaimed that documentation can serve as protection as writing permitted her office to track cases as accurately as possible. This allowed them to keep records, transparent, ensuring that judgments could be defended with evidence as written documentation protected everyone involved in the legal process from victims to prosecutors, defendants and the public. Second, my grandmother stressed that public statements, policy briefs, and speeches were some of the most effective tools used to communicate to the masses. “Writing is where you can make people see what they might be blind to” she stated. Whether she was forwarding community projects or calling attention to youth violence, and Baltimore County, writing assisted in her ability to draw the conscience of the city. Lastly, my grandmother has always assorted that writing permits her to “leave something behind that last longer than any verdict.” Even today my grandmother still provides her thoughts on politics, community events, and justice as she’s still a part of numerous boards even deep into her retirement. “I want you all to know what I fought for and how hard I fought for you” she says as these writing are not just for the public but are for us serving as emblems of family history.
By interviewing my grandmother, I have concluded that my grandmother writes for reasons much deeper than what the duties of her profession entailed. She writes to ensure there is accuracy in the world with one simple misunderstanding, can shape someone’s life. She writes to persuade community leaders and citizens to always think about fairness and justice over what they believe is right. She writes to preserve the truth when memory cannot just be enough. Most importantly, she writes to form a record of her own commitment towards fairness and justice, a legacy that she hopes future generations can learn from.
When I started this essay, I thought I was certain of what made my grandmother tick, but because of this assignment, I believe I now have a much greater grasp of who my Nana is. I realize that writing has defined who Pat Jessamy is. Patricia Jessamy writes because writing helps protect community shaped by oppressive systems and communicate truths that must be learned. Patricia suggested me rights because justice deserves clarity and objectivity as writing has helped amplify my grandmother ‘s voice as her voice has always been a vehicle for change. This assignment has helped me understand why my grandmother right and why writing is so crucial for all of us. Writing how we define who we are, how our words can influence others, and how we can use our words to advocate for change.
Interview
Me: Nana, Why do you write?
Nana: First, I write because I love expressing myself in that way, but I also write because writing can be used as a vehicle to protect the public. Writing has always been a vehicle for accountability, truth and reform and I always attempted to use my writing to communicate the law to the public
Me: How important was writing in your political career?
Nana: Writing is where you can make people see what they might be blind to. I needed wrtiting when i wanted to forward community projects or call attention to youth violence within Baltimore County, writing assisted in my ability to draw the conscience of the city.
Me: Was writing only valuable for you during your politcal career?
Nana: I wanted you all to know what I fought for and how hard I fought for you and writing provided me the opportunity to leave something behind that last longer than any verdict
850 Media 