Written by: Jennifer Oquendo
Jassmine Parks is an amazing writer and spoken word artist
with a unique style and love for life and all its ups and downs that comes with
it. Her poetry and writings are so deep and intricate it would move even the
strongest men in their seats. She has a way with words that truly impacts her
audience which of course comes with first hand experiences of life full of
blessings and difficulties.
Growing up Jassmine encountered issues that not
only affected her but also molded her into the woman she is today. Because of those experiences, Jassmine has
found such a connection and desire to help kids and young adults that deal with
family struggles, domestic violence, discrimination and sexuality. The difficulties of life that she faced did
not stop her from exceeding.
With determination, she received her G.E.D. at the
age of 16 and received her bachelors from The University of Michigan. Jassmine has an extensive amount of experience in writing
and is currently the member of the 2015 Detroit Poetry Slam Team. Besides that,
she was published in The University of Michigan- Dearborn’s journal, Lyceum and
is in the process of completing her first full collection of work. Writing is
something she loves but she wants to experiment with other forms of art such as
acting, speaking and modeling. I was
thrilled and excited to be able to get in touch with such a passionate artist
and get to know a little more about her.
Halfstack Magazine: What is the program you are currently working on
and what is it about?
Jasmine: My program, Phenoma!y, a Phenomenal Anomaly, is still a new
program. The program is a safe space for adolescent youth. It is intended to
provide a trusting environment for the kids. I set up the program at a charter
school in my own hometown, Romulus in Metro Detroit, Michigan. I am still in
the process in which I am taking the necessary steps to turn Phenoma!y into a
non-profit organization.
HM: What made you start it?
Teenage life is a confusing and overwhelming time for some
youth. In a sense, it is the shedding of a childhood that hinged on dependency
(physically, mentally and emotionally). In another light it appears to be a
proverbial threshold leading into adulthood. Adolescents are learning to be
more independent and responsible. At the same time pre-teens and teenagers are
detaching themselves as the extensions of someone else, such as a parent. They
are attempting to establish the foundation of their own identity. It is best
that they have a safe environment in which they may come into themselves.
I am passionate about working with youth because they hold
the future (ours, theirs and proceeding generations) in their hand. It's
important that they are properly equipped to enter the world as responsible,
confident, self-sufficient members of society.
Throughout my youth I struggled with issues of poverty,
housing stability, adoption, an incarcerated mother and a plethora of other
things. Though intelligent, my behavior and dismal living situations were not
conducive to an education setting. Only being viewed as disadvantaged and
underprivileged led me places that allowed me to reflect and evolve. Though
temporary, at different stages of my growth I had certain people in my life
that were willing to provide guidance and compassion, absent pity or judgement.
To them, I am thankful because I may not be where I am without the push and
accountability.
HM: In relation to the theme of our issue, what are your thoughts on self-love?
In learning how to love myself I have been attempting to
incorporate the power of vulnerability, authenticity and transparency into my
life. Vulnerability to me is the ability to risk possible pain to be rewarded
with the positive emotions such as happiness and peace. Authenticity allows for
a person to strip themselves of the layers that we tend to hide behind. It
allows for one to be seen for who we are, without explaining it away or
offering excuses to appease to others. Transparency is being comfortable in
one's own nakedness and giving others the choice to look or not.
HM: Have you found yourself ever disliking your appearance? If so, how
did you overcome that?
Beauty is so subjective! The traditional beauty standard is
measured against white women with blue eyes and blonde hair. I've never felt fully comfortable in my own
skin with such an impossible bar. I'm a brown skinned black woman, with dark
eyes and dark natural hair. I try to reaffirm aspects that make me beautiful
and sometimes it means loving my imperfections and redefining what I find
beautiful that day. I have not evolved into total comfort of my body and some
days that's okay.
HM: Nowadays the media claims that in order to be beautiful, you must
be physically perfect. What are your thoughts on this?
The media is in the business of controlling perception and
selling advertisements. They have accomplished that! Even though it is
unrealistic perception is reality. Unfortunately these portrayals of women
contribute to esteem issues for our gender. It feels like a superficial based
distraction. Commercials target women in such a way that we feel compelled to
augment ourselves in an overwhelming quantity. Ads make us so self-conscience
of our appearance as an individual that we shy away from political injustices.
Why should I care about who makes my bra and its padding amount more than I do
the wage gap? How does the size of my butt help decrease sexual assault?
HM: What would you say to people that struggle with body love?
Find the unique aspects of yourself that you think are
lovely! Accentuate them, exaggerate them. I like to find new beauty marks on my
body in odd places.
Also affirmations work! You have to combat the negative
outlook from yourself and others by staring at yourself in the mirrors,
sometimes stark naked. Find at least one thing you love and refuse to comment
on what you dislike. Leave yourself notes. Look up women who resemble you and
are successful in loving on their imperfections. Remember that perfect is
unobtainable by anyone, even the beautiful ones in ads are photo shopped.
HM: Have you used your poetry in relation to self-love, body love or self-acceptance?
Or have you had any instances where you were going against the typical beauty
standards?
One of my favorite poems that I have written is called the
Topography of My Love Lines. The work narrates the struggle that I had with the
stretch marks that came from pregnancy. It wasn't until my daughter, Ja'Nya
(7), would come up to me every day and lift up my shirt and squeeze my belly.
She told me that she loved my "flabby bell," and its chubbiness and
the stretch marks. Every day! I was SO uncomfortable. She told me that they
were beautiful because I birthed her. The more she did it, the more I began to
see the beauty in them myself. The poem
serves as a story in which Ja'Nya explores my stretch marks (love lines) and in
that I also explore the beauty of self-outside of the societal imposed beauty
standards.
Jassmine is not only a positive example to women but she is
also a reflection of how women should view themselves on a daily basis. There
will be days when we will totally dislike our appearance but Jassmine reminds
us that it’s okay. A little affirmation goes a long way!
To read more articles like this, check out our Summer Issue HERE.
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