We recently had the chance to connect with Sharee’ Yveliz and have shared our conversation below.
Sharee’ Yveliz, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
At this time more than ever, I’m called to share my voice more, however it may be (i.e singing, poetry, books). With each showing of self, as I like to say instead of “performances”, I share more of me, my story, my truth-a bit of wisdom that is enough to light a spark in someone just like I needed at a point in my life. They say you need the faith of a mustard seed, and I want to help you plant it. To do that I have to be authentic with and to myself and with THAT also comes saying “yes” more to things that feel scary but in the way that propels me closer to my aligned path.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
La negra bella llego, LLEGO! I am Sharee’ Yveliz, small town girl big city living. (Insert sass emoji). I’m a little bit of this and a little bit of that mixed with the nostalgic energy of habichuela con dulce, the twang of the accordion in your favorite merengue and the comfort of the cuentos told by your abuelita.
As a poet I bring that energy to the stage with how I show up as myself and interact with my surroundings. My artistry, my experiences, all exist across languages and cultures that do not fit in a one size fits all. Instead of searching for a platform or place that can hold that space not only for myself, but others like me, I created it. Viva La Negra is more than a brand it is community. It’s a space for celebration of AfroLatinidad, womanhood, culture, art, education and most definitely for the malcriadas.
As an adult, I crave community. I grew up surrounded by families and friends turned tias de alma, neighbors turned friends. I feel like the world stopped trusting in the communal. why don’t we share stories anymore that teach us life lessons? Why don’t we heal together when la cultura cura? It’s not fair to carry the woe all at once on your own. Imagine how many lives we can save if we share our story. Around this time lin 2024, I joined the family that is, Mi Gente Mi Pueblo and it sparked off all the ideas I didn’t realize were at my fingertips, right at the tip of my tongue.
I am on the pursuit of happiness learning, growing, and teaching as I go. I’m surrounding myself with art, culture and people who feel like family, living my best inner child dreams. Viva La Negra is ever growing and I’m right there with it.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
Fear. Scarcity mindset. When I was a little girl, my mother, after I’d complain about chores, would tell me that if when I’m older, I don’t want to do them, work hard and pay someone else to do them. Now, did it fuel my soft desires? Yes. However, reality was very much “champagne taste and beer pockets”. You worked to pay bills and no play, not without guilt at least, and become complacent because you have security. It almost felt like an epiphany but more than ever it’s like a light switch went off and decided that no, this is no longer my reality. If I keep the mindset that I can only exist within certain confines, then that’s where I’ll stay. As I quoted for my students, ” I know I can, be what I want to be. If I work hard at it, I’ll be what I want to be”. I feel like my mind is a kaleidoscope of ideas and one of them is bound to skyrocket my dream turned reality. It’s a work in progress, but I’m doing better on thinking, “what if all goes right?”
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
As cliche as it sounds, going through it all really does help me appreciate the trials and tribulations I went through.
October 2nd, I celebrated my 4th Anniversary of “Choosing Life” – moving to a thousand miles away on a 2-hour flight with hope in my back pocket for something other than what this stage of my life was. I had to give life another shot.
*Right now, as I type this, my left hand is itching.
They say that’s you receiving side y que lluega el dinero. *I claim that* +
I’m quite literally in the middle of the moments I prayed for. Moments I cried about, spoke to the moon about, whispered to the water about. I take in the smaller moments with a fresher breath, staying where my feet are. I can learn the lessons and pass them to my son so that he doesn’t have to learn by experience, rather the environment created for him where that exists. My experience is a part of my story, but it does not define who I am- there comes a point in time where you get to enough is enough.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
The growth of Viva La Negra; I so desire for it to grow into so much more. Every growing moment I take in is another idea I have to how it can grow into a place of healing, education, introductions, stories y mas! It all started with a poem, Negra Bella, that resonated with other Black Latinas who didn’t fit a mold that was never for them. For us. From there I wanted to have something people can wear and rock their Black Girl Magic while also creating a series of interviews. I asked questions pushed you to really dig deep and find the adjectives that describe you. It truly fills my heart to hear how others see themselves in my poetry in just knowing this space was made with them in mind. I don’t HAVE to keep going, I GET to. I’m blessed.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I’m pretty sure I’ve done the later already. Been there, done that, wore that t-1shirt. I’m pretty sure I was born to talk- to this day my mother and grandmother tell me that at two I shouted “ZENAIDA!” from the bedroom, summoning my grandmother and leaving everyone mouth agape. After that I found an opportunity to express my thought on something because I had a strong sense of justice even then. That later turned into “you should be a lawyer because you like to argue”. I wouldn’t say that perse, but I couldn’t turn a blind eye. Instead of law I went to school for criminal psychology, which I totally enjoyed, I just couldn’t imagine myself in that career. A benefit though is a creative writing class that reignited an energy in me
My brother and I were fortunate to have our friends live in the same complex as us. Sometimes we’d join forces and other times the girls hung out. We’d gather at the staircases with large platforms that served as a stage- we taught, sang, showcased new instruments, and the list went on. By second grade I wrote little stories on my life that later found comfort in Chicken Noodle books. Fast forward to today, I’ve been teaching for the last year, published a book a or three and share my life through my poetry any chance I can. Funny how history repeats itself.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.VivaLaNegra.me
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/iAmShareeYveliz
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@IamShareeYveliz
- Other: https://instagram.com/QueVivaLaNegra
