Mississippi Native: Jehrod Rose Alain
"Jackson, Mississippi, is not just home, it is my birthplace. And like the prodigal son, I know I am always welcomed here, no matter how far I roam."
What does it mean to call Mississippi home? Why do people choose to leave or live in this weird, wonderful, and sometimes infuriating place? Today we hear from Jehrod Rose Alain, a writer and creative who grew up and still lives in Jackson. Though he has aspirations of moving to New York City, which he calls “his second home,” Jehrod finds community, inspiration, and beauty in his hometown.
Where are you from?
I am from the creaking pews of a holiness church where “hallelujah” and the joyous sounds of congregational songs permeated the rafters, along with the chords of the hammond organ. Jackson, Mississippi, is not just home, it is my birthplace. And like the prodigal son, I know I am always welcomed here, no matter how far I roam.
How long have you lived in Mississippi?
35 years, in fact. And my, how time has passed.
What does “home” mean to you? How does Mississippi fit into that definition?
Home is where you lay your armor down. It is a place where your defenses are given over to ease and comfort. It is cultivated by the people you love. It is sustained by the gestures of kindness you extend to others. Even more, home is the spiritual work you do in order to find the confidence, the authenticity, and the courage to show up as your fullest, most emboldened self. No matter where you are in the world, home is that place inside you that cannot be denied.
I am from the creaking pews of a holiness church where “hallelujah” and the joyous sounds of congregational songs permeated the rafters, along with the chords of the hammond organ.
How have you cultivated community in Mississippi? Who are the people who have made you feel rooted here?
I can honestly say it was when I worked as a barista at Cups, An Espresso Cafe in Fondren that I discovered the real Jackson. It was not as divided as one might think. I met and really got to know the stories, dreams, and hopes of my fellow Jacksonians. I saw us striving together in the same river towards a brighter future. Many of the change makers and bridge builders all convened at our little cafe.
I was also fortunate enough to start a book club there. For the Love of Reading was created to foster a longer conversation and one aimed at connecting over a great read. People were always asking me what I was reading and my former manager Cody also has a deep love for reading. So when he came to me with the idea, it was a no brainer.
What’s the weirdest question or assumption you’ve encountered about Mississippi (or about you as a Mississippian) by someone who’s never been here?
While that list can be exhaustive, I think the most disheartening assumption is that the majority of white people are racist. While the racial divide and economic strata is as wide and as long as the Mississippi River, it is far from what it used to be. There is an African saying that poses the question, “How do you eat an elephant?” The answer: “One bite at a time.” Collectively, we are progressing and sometimes it takes having the hard conversations to get us there.
My life’s path is to be a writer, and living here has given me the source material and the life experience to put it into practice. There is no greater practice than putting what’s in your heart on the blank page.
How has living in Mississippi affected your identity and your life’s path?
What a profound question. As a writer, I feel I am in an elite club when it comes to the writers who also call this place home. Among them, Richard Wright, William Faulkner, Margaret Walker Alexander and more contemporarily, Jesmyn Ward, Kiese Laymon, Natasha Trethewey, and my dear friend and mentor, Ellen Ann Fentress.
My life’s path is to be a writer, and living here has given me the source material and the life experience to put it into practice. There is no greater practice than putting what’s in your heart on the blank page. Authenticity is a calling card that trumps everything else, except maybe kindness.
What is something that you’ve learned about Mississippi only by living here? In what ways has Mississippi lived up to your expectations?
Sometimes you can’t see the forest for the trees, and my, do we have a lot of trees. My best advice is to search out your fun. Sometimes you have to get out of your car and be on foot to have a real adventure. Take downtown Jackson for instance. It’s so beautiful. From the architecture to the murals and gardens, there is something magical about it. How often do we deny ourselves the pleasure of being a tourist in our own town? That’s one piece of advice I would offer.
At some point that pothos is going to outgrow the pot, and in order to give the roots more room to grow, you are going to have to repot it. New York City is my bigger pot.
Do you ever consider moving away someday? Does a sense of duty keep you rooted here? Do you have a “tipping point”?
New York City will be my second home, and while I have been saying this for a while, I’ve really had to get my ducks in a row—which includes finally graduating from Tougaloo College with my B.A in English.
Being a writer is much like being a turtle, sometimes you are slow to move, but you always get where you are going eventually. I have learned how important patience and planning are to one’s path. I also feel strongly about growing where you are and finding the magic lurking around every corner. My mindset has always been stronger than my environment, and I choose to see the beautiful no matter what.
I think my sense of duty is to grow and I feel it is important to leave home to do that. I liken it to being a houseplant. At some point that pothos is going to outgrow the pot, and in order to give the roots more room to grow, you are going to have to repot it. New York City is my bigger pot.
What do you wish the rest of the country understood about Mississippi?
How fiercely intelligent and gifted we are. How our struggles have given room for our triumphs and we are still crafting a new narrative around who we are and what we can be. There is so much hope here, and once you visit and spend enough time around Mississippians, you will find out just what I mean. We are not monolithic. In fact, we are prolific in our diverse views.
Do you have a favorite Mississippi writer, artist, or musician who you think everyone needs to know about?
Favorite writer? I’ll just shamelessly say, keep your eyes out for me.
Favorite artist? Adrienne Dominick for visual arts. Roslyn Harris for jewelry design (Chic’d Out).
Favorite musician/singer? Ally Durr.
If you had one billion dollars to invest in Mississippi, how would you spend your money?
I would give it all to any reparations endeavors in the future. I come from a family of sharecroppers and when I think about the toil of their plight, the indignities of their workload, I think about how completely robbed they were of any financial security. Not only were they denied opportunities for growth, but so were the generations that came after them. The playing field would be a lot more equal and generational wealth would not have to depend on my son becoming an NFL star or the next great actor to pull us into some semblance of wealth.
There is so much hope here, and once you visit and spend enough time around Mississippians, you will find out just what I mean. We are not monolithic. In fact, we are prolific in our diverse views.
What or who do you want to shamelessly promote? (It can absolutely be a project you’re working on, or something you are involved in.)
Two things: As a board member for Growing Up Knowing, an organization working to shift the narrative and equip parents and their children with the verbiage necessary to know their hearts and parts, I feel more people should know about this effort. Visit growingupknowing.org to find out more. Donate. Get involved. Invite us to your next event.
Secondly, I will be hosting an empowering workshop on February 24, 2024. JUST AS I AM: Learning to Love the YOU Within. This event will be the launch of my coaching and lifestyle company. It is primarily catered to women, but all are welcome. For more details email justasiamworkshop@gmail.com.
Love it: "Home is where you lay your armor down."
You mention the importance of kindness several times, and that's exactly what comes to mind when I think of meeting you at Cups - what a generous, warm-hearted, empathetic, and kind person you are! I'm eager to see how your writing develops! I hope Ellen Ann has been talking up the creative writing MFA at Bennington, where she and my daughter both got their MFAs.