Mississippi Transplant: Nadia Alexis

"Living in Mississippi has done so much for me. I came down here to get a writing degree but I got more than I imagined. I developed a deeper relationship with myself."

What does it mean to call Mississippi home? Why do people choose to leave or live in this weird, wonderful, and sometimes infuriating place? With deep ties to Haiti and roots in Harlem, Nadia Alexis moved to Mississippi to pursue her writing career and a slower pace of life. Little did she know that embracing her new home would lead to one of the most artistically productive periods of her life: “I had my first solo exhibition here. I went from having a poet resume of less than two pages to an artist CV that’s over seven pages. I became a cycle breaker, a birder, a nature lover, and a creative writing educator. I wrote books and I’m still writing.” Below, Nadia tells us more about the community and creative energy that make her feel at home Mississippi.

Nadia Alexis is from Harlem and now lives in McComb, Mississippi.

Where are you from? 

I was born and raised in Harlem, New York City to Haitian immigrants which also means I am from Haiti’s land and water by way of my parents and their parents.

When did you move to Mississippi and why did you move here? 

I moved to Mississippi in 2016 to make more space for my writer self, warmer weather, and a slower-paced life. I wanted to write books and I wanted a structured environment with a good community and mentorship from great faculty. I also wanted to be in the South. So to get my first book done, I applied to the University of Mississippi’s Creative Writing MFA program, and from there I ended up earning an MFA plus an English - Creative Writing PhD.

What does “home” mean to you? How does Mississippi fit into that definition? 

Home means a lot of things to me. It means being in my body and feeling more connected to myself than ever before. It means being in community with people kinda like me–literary, visual artsy, astrology girlies, tarot lovers, Caribbean, Black, Black girl, survivors, thrivers, dreamers, doers, ancestors, people who love to watch birds fly, and more. While New York is still home, Mississippi is too. And it wasn’t until I moved down here that I began to expand what I understood to be home. Home is more than a place and that is incredibly grounding and freeing.

Photo of Nadia by Madylin Nixon-Taplet.

What do you miss most about the place where you’re from?

The people. Specifically my friends, family, and other community members. But FaceTimes, texts, and phone calls help. I also miss going to Konpa dance classes and parties. It’s a type of dance and music from Haiti.  I try to go to the events whenever I’m in town and it works for my schedule. Konpa makes me feel alive.