Mar 21 2025 67 mins
What happens when creativity meets community celebration? Our guest Chin-Yer embodies this powerful combination as a published poet, musician, radio host, and cultural curator in Baltimore.
Born in England to Jamaican Rastafarian parents and raised in New Jersey before settling in Baltimore, Miss Chin-Yer describes herself as an "alien" who has transformed that outsider perspective into artistic strength. Her childhood immersed in music—watching her father perform in his reggae band and growing up surrounded by vinyl records—shaped her deep connection between words and melody. When early childhood trauma left her unable to speak, singing became her first form of communication, revealing the healing power of artistic expression that would guide her life's work.
The conversation takes a fascinating turn when discussing creativity itself. "Writer's block does not exist," she declares with conviction. "What people suffer from is being too critical of what they put out." Her advice? Put "crumbs on the page"—even if it's nonsense—because like birds attracted to breadcrumbs, the muses will come once you've taken that first step. This practical wisdom demolishes the paralysis of perfectionism that prevents so many artists from creating.
Her most visible contributions to Baltimore include founding the Baltimore Crown Awards, now in its 19th year, which celebrates everyone from community activists to musicians, giving them "their flowers in the form of crowns while they're living." Through The Black Mall marketplace and her radio show on WEAA, she continues uplifting talent and spreading positivity, deliberately countering negative stereotypes about her city.
After exploring numerous spiritual traditions throughout her life, from Catholic schools to Buddhist monasteries, she arrived at a beautifully simple philosophy: "If God is love, that means love is God." This clarity mirrors her approach to creativity—finding the essential truth within complexity.
Ready to be inspired? Listen now and discover how putting "crumbs on the page" might be exactly what your creative practice needs. Don't forget to follow her on IG @chinyer & @baltimorecrownawards . Thanks for tuning in everyone!
Watch more episodes here: https://respectingperspectives.com
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