This entire letter resonated with me so much. Thank you so much for your vulnerability and putting into to words so many of us black women feel after listening to Keke x Oprah's interview. It shifted and stirred something deep in me. This line will stay with me as I write: "Identity without faith leads to a fear based life. faith without clear identity produces selfish ambition disguised as service." Thank you for your obedience and using your voice. You are amazing.
➕➕➕to everything in this comment. This was the line for me, too! This season, I’m noticing the power of bearing witness and how it really does unlock permissions within that we didn’t know we needed to receive. That’s what this letter has given me. What a gem and a balm.
Maya, you are definitely operating in your purpose. You may not remember me, but I'm one of the women you brought in at OWN to talk about 'Queen Sugar' (along with my sister Isabelle who commented above).
You being obedient about that idea pushed me into a space that I had suppressed for so long. It was a reminder of how important it is to leave the "box" behind that they strive to place it in, and use our unique voices in the way that HE intended for us to use them.
Thank you; words cannot fully express the feeling. Your writing brought peace and tranquility to my soul, and I want you to know it truly brought peace.
Ok, now you said this was a long one, so I took the time to divide my reading between yesterday and today.
"because when our real work is lined up with the right domain, in your words, nobody can touch us." - You think I CHOSE, of all places SOUTH CAROLINA to do my work as a producer?!? You spoke a word with that one.
"in the modern workplace, there is no positive system of remembrance or experience of fulfillment." -and people desire it. Hence, my work as a storyteller.
" i’m here for a time such as this to create immersive environments of context and permission for those of us who unconsciously allowed ourselves to be abused and manipulated out of worth by the cultures and systems that were intentionally designed to suppress us." - the first true time I felt this was the summer of 2020. Everyone else was spiraling out of control and I said "Oh God-I can handle this, it's why I'm here!"
Lemme stop playing and pledge some support to FTL cause you are so real...take care!
I'm so relieved that others are seeing the toxicity in most work environments. I lost my job as a nurse to bullying and corruption in the system. I loved being a nurse when it was about caring for my patients. I hated it when it became a machine where I was a cog valued only for how much money I could make for the masters. I desperately need meaning, purpose, and connection in my life. I've lost everything to the abusive systems - my career, my family, my home, my safety, my dignity, and I almost lost my life. I had an impulsive suicide attempt in 2024 and have been further destroyed since. Every day I wish I hadn't woken up in 2024. I don't want to die, I just want the relentless pain to stop.
I listened to the interview while driving and thought KeKe asked different questions which drilled down on different aspects of Oprah's life and success unlike other interviews. After reading your open letter, I think I should sit down and watch it for the full effect.
Maya, Thank you for telling the TRUTH and sharing with us. I’m at a loss for words but just know that I felt this deep in my core & spirit. I’ll be reading this again and again to process this and put some action behind it all. Thank you for writing this. Thank you 🙏🏾- whew!
Wow. Incredible writing, Maya!!! This blessed me so much. You are truly about our Father's business in the work you and the team are doing. Up & onward!
I got chills reading this and would love to connect personally if you are open to it! Our missions feel very aligned (and my spiritual community is actually CALLED “the becoming collective” and I need to re-read Genesis now).
I have a project I’m brewing on that I’d love to discuss with you if you are open to it. Bless the algorithm for sending me your words this morning.
When I started my business, I too, shared this vision of shifting the work environment to create one that didn't replicate the ecosystem of exploitation that is so normalized in the corporate world. But boy, that endeavor burned me out. I almost died (not a hyperbole) trying to materialize this vision of mine. I'm saying to say, i empathize with this longing of yours Maya, and the high price of doing things differently, of imagining differently, daring to believe you can work against a well oiled exploitation machine. But if God made it your mission, then surely he provided the tools and perhaps your wilderness era is part of the forging or polishing of said tools.
you got to learn from THE great. THE legendary. THE goat. surely, it is not for naught. Such proximity has to be prophecy. You are inevitable
This entire letter resonated with me so much. Thank you so much for your vulnerability and putting into to words so many of us black women feel after listening to Keke x Oprah's interview. It shifted and stirred something deep in me. This line will stay with me as I write: "Identity without faith leads to a fear based life. faith without clear identity produces selfish ambition disguised as service." Thank you for your obedience and using your voice. You are amazing.
➕➕➕to everything in this comment. This was the line for me, too! This season, I’m noticing the power of bearing witness and how it really does unlock permissions within that we didn’t know we needed to receive. That’s what this letter has given me. What a gem and a balm.
Maya, you are definitely operating in your purpose. You may not remember me, but I'm one of the women you brought in at OWN to talk about 'Queen Sugar' (along with my sister Isabelle who commented above).
You being obedient about that idea pushed me into a space that I had suppressed for so long. It was a reminder of how important it is to leave the "box" behind that they strive to place it in, and use our unique voices in the way that HE intended for us to use them.
Thank you for this....For then, and for now. XO
i am speechless. 😶 🤯👏🏿
i’ll be back when i find words…
Thank you; words cannot fully express the feeling. Your writing brought peace and tranquility to my soul, and I want you to know it truly brought peace.
Ok, now you said this was a long one, so I took the time to divide my reading between yesterday and today.
"because when our real work is lined up with the right domain, in your words, nobody can touch us." - You think I CHOSE, of all places SOUTH CAROLINA to do my work as a producer?!? You spoke a word with that one.
"in the modern workplace, there is no positive system of remembrance or experience of fulfillment." -and people desire it. Hence, my work as a storyteller.
" i’m here for a time such as this to create immersive environments of context and permission for those of us who unconsciously allowed ourselves to be abused and manipulated out of worth by the cultures and systems that were intentionally designed to suppress us." - the first true time I felt this was the summer of 2020. Everyone else was spiraling out of control and I said "Oh God-I can handle this, it's why I'm here!"
Lemme stop playing and pledge some support to FTL cause you are so real...take care!
A divine word.
Thank you.
I'm so relieved that others are seeing the toxicity in most work environments. I lost my job as a nurse to bullying and corruption in the system. I loved being a nurse when it was about caring for my patients. I hated it when it became a machine where I was a cog valued only for how much money I could make for the masters. I desperately need meaning, purpose, and connection in my life. I've lost everything to the abusive systems - my career, my family, my home, my safety, my dignity, and I almost lost my life. I had an impulsive suicide attempt in 2024 and have been further destroyed since. Every day I wish I hadn't woken up in 2024. I don't want to die, I just want the relentless pain to stop.
This is so beautiful and so astute about work - thank you for sharing!
I listened to the interview while driving and thought KeKe asked different questions which drilled down on different aspects of Oprah's life and success unlike other interviews. After reading your open letter, I think I should sit down and watch it for the full effect.
Maya, Thank you for telling the TRUTH and sharing with us. I’m at a loss for words but just know that I felt this deep in my core & spirit. I’ll be reading this again and again to process this and put some action behind it all. Thank you for writing this. Thank you 🙏🏾- whew!
This. How raw- open and beautiful
Wow. Incredible writing, Maya!!! This blessed me so much. You are truly about our Father's business in the work you and the team are doing. Up & onward!
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
I got chills reading this and would love to connect personally if you are open to it! Our missions feel very aligned (and my spiritual community is actually CALLED “the becoming collective” and I need to re-read Genesis now).
I have a project I’m brewing on that I’d love to discuss with you if you are open to it. Bless the algorithm for sending me your words this morning.
When I started my business, I too, shared this vision of shifting the work environment to create one that didn't replicate the ecosystem of exploitation that is so normalized in the corporate world. But boy, that endeavor burned me out. I almost died (not a hyperbole) trying to materialize this vision of mine. I'm saying to say, i empathize with this longing of yours Maya, and the high price of doing things differently, of imagining differently, daring to believe you can work against a well oiled exploitation machine. But if God made it your mission, then surely he provided the tools and perhaps your wilderness era is part of the forging or polishing of said tools.
you got to learn from THE great. THE legendary. THE goat. surely, it is not for naught. Such proximity has to be prophecy. You are inevitable
ISABELLE!!! How ARE you friend??