Background

(this website is under construction!!)

Danica Jay is an African-American writer, hailing from Atlanta, GA, currently living in Philadelphia, PA.

Artist Statement

Through my work across poetry, drama, and prose, I explore the intricate web of human relationships that shape our understanding of self and community. My writing delves into the spaces between people – the charged dynamics of family bonds, the ebb and flow of communal connections, and the moments when we catch glimpses of ourselves in others. Drawing inspiration from the rich traditions of magical realism and Afrofuturism, I weave elements of the supernatural and speculative with deeply personal narratives of identity and belonging.

The intellectual and artistic foundations laid by visionaries like Octavia Butler and Tananarive Due inform my approach to storytelling, while the critical perspectives of bell hooks and James Cone help shape my examination of power, love, and liberation. The raw authenticity of August Wilson's character work and Colson Whitehead's genre-defying narratives inspire my own creative boundaries. Perhaps most significantly, my writing is deeply influenced by the grassroots wisdom and lived experiences of community activists whose work demonstrates the transformative power of collective action and shared stories.

In my practice, I seek to create narratives that serve as both mirror and window – reflecting our shared humanity while opening perspectives onto new ways of being and belonging. Whether through the intimate voice of poetry, the collaborative spirit of theater, or the expansive canvas of novels, my work examines how we navigate the complexities of human connection in a world that often pushes us toward isolation. By blending elements of the magical with grounded emotional truths, I aim to illuminate the extraordinary potential that exists in our ordinary encounters with each other.