There was a time when all I had was spoken word poetry to turn to for self-healing. I needed the love and support of strangers in the audience to validate my struggle and history. I didn’t have the opportunity, as I’ve mentioned many times before, to pursue a formal literary education. I didn’t have the privilege of going to therapy to work out my issues with abandonment, sexual abuse, drug addiction, and violence.

I could’ve easily ended up in prison or dead like most of my peers. My craft did not guarantee me personal survival, success, or even fame and fortune, but it did offer hope. I’m not trying to misguide anyone into thinking that pursuing one’s passion is what’s going to resolve one’s issues, but it can at least offer hope. So having privilege is great but passion and talent can also be their own rewards.

—Emanuel Xavier, interview with Lambda Literary