Hustle Grind Shine & Reignite: Episode 5 with Raquel Willis

Hustle Grind Shine & Reignite with Jessica Hartley

As a transgender, Black and queer woman - being the first is nothing new for Raquel Willis. As an award-winning writer, activist, media strategist and leader in this current human rights movement transforming the world, Ms. Willis has always harnessed the power of storytelling to share her truth and elevate the voices others. In this first episode of a two-part series, we start with her beginnings of growing up Black and Catholic in the Deep South, we learn about her struggles with self-identity and discovery at a time when there were minimal (and oftentimes harmful) representations of queer and trans people in media and entertainment, and how her outrage at the lack of awareness and action for the safety and security of Black and Brown trans people galvanized her activism.

In this first episode we cover:

• The importance of finding community no matter where you are and the powerful impact that can have on your growth journey
• The triumphs and challenges in being “the first” and breaking so many barriers before the age of 30
• Why living your truth and standing in your power sometimes means taking a leap of faith, even when the odds are against you

About Raquel Willis

Raquel Willis is an award-winning writer, activist, and media strategist dedicated to Black transgender liberation. She has held groundbreaking roles throughout her career including director of communications for Ms. Foundation for Women, executive editor of Out magazine, and national organizer for Transgender Law Center.

As a thought leader on gender, race and intersectionality, her writing has been published in numerous publications, books and anthologies. Her writing has been published in Black Futures by Kimberly Drew and Jenna Wortham, Bulgari Magnifica: The Power Women Hold edited by Tina Leung, The Echoing Ida Collection edited by Kemi Alabi, Cynthia R. Greenlee, and Janna A. Zinzi, and Four Hundred Souls: A Community History of African America, 1619-2019 edited by Ibram X. Kendi and Keisha Blain. She has also written for Essence, Bitch, VICE, Buzzfeed, The Cut, and Vogue. During her time at Out, she published the GLAAD Media Award-winning “Trans Obituaries Project.” In 2023, she will release her debut memoir, I Believe in Our Power, about her coming of identity and activism with St. Martin’s Press.

In 2020, Raquel was named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 and The Root 100 for a second time. In 2021, Raquel was named to the University of Georgia’s 40 Under 40 and Fast Company’s Queer 50.