…The beginning of hope to the World –Zain”
Known professionally as author, educator and mentor, Zain!!!! clearly defines herself as mother, spiritual being and servant of her peoplethrough her delivery of ancestral and spiritual messages. Having been given aname as a part of her lineage, grandmother to granddaughter, further explainsher deep connection to the Book of Psalms.Her journey is also a dichotomy of two worlds. Born inSavannah, GA then raised in New York City, only to return to her roots ofSavannah during her academic career gave her a certain perspective, awareness andinsight that fuel her senses and expressed itself in her words and writings. Onceshe realized how powerful the indelible word could be, her spoken or writtenmessages provoked thoughts and compelled her audience to relive the moments andsimultaneously be entertained.While earning her undergrad degree in Journalism and Englishat Savannah State University (SSU), Zain!!!! enjoyed reading the writings ofSonia Sanchez, Tina Mc Elroy Ansa, j california cooper and James Baldwin. Matriculationat SSU was rich, fostering and cementing her love of grassroots cultural eventsand support of HCBUs. Her undergrad studies in history and grad studies inSecondary Literacy Ed. were achieved while listening to her eclectic musicalplaylist of Alex O Neal, Shirley Horn, Raphael Saadiq, Mark Antoine, Sting, TheRoots and Common. Ironically, “Visions for Black Men” by Dr. Na’im Akbarblueprinted what kind of woman Zain!!!! transitioned into and “My Life inSearch of Africa” by Dr. John Henrik Clarke urged her to continue her lifelongcommitment to unapologetically educating and loving her people.A simple NY breeze in August or the elderly woman she heldthe door for at the post office easily inspires the author. It is however, thetriumphs and struggles of her people that undoubtedly drives Zain!!!! to put pento paper and give words form. Activist and Public Enemy member Chuck D reaffirms “the poetry in ‘Zain!!!!…NowWhat?’ is like refreshing oxygen to the masses gasping for logical air. Her poemsabout love, politics, social issues and family reveal her commitment to raisingconsciousness of words into actions.”Zain!!!! has throughout her young adult years taken a fewcareer paths including pro makeup artist, and favored middle and high schoolteacher in New York which she says is one of the greatest experiences of herlife simply because she gets the purest view of the world through the eyes ofher students.Zain!!!!’s passion continues molding young minds in and outof the classroom, facilitating the “LuminousLotusLove” Rites of Passageexperience, while taking her people throughout the Diaspora on her spoken &written journey in mind-body-spirit far beyond words.