Who Dat?
My name is Bassey pronounced “ahhh” like a sigh. Nigerian born, Oklahoma bred, PG County fed, Brooklyn led writer/poet/neurotic. I’m half awesome, a quarter crazy and 1/3rd genius… the left over bit is a caramel creme center. I’m also really bad at math. I’m a stubborn pushover. I’ve been on TV. I’ve been in magazines. I’ve been on the couch watching VH1 reality shows. Sometimes I travel the country spreading my message of hope and plots to take over the world… I mean cupcakes. I’m contemplating a career change. How to combine my writing and performance with my love of reality shows about drag queens, I’m not sure. If you have any ideas…
Oh right… I’m also writing a book about living with bipolar II disorder and depression. The title kicks so much ass, I should just publish that and then drop the mic and moonwalk the fuck off stage.
RIP Michael Jackson.
Gradmommy aka LaToya
07/25/2010 at 11:46 pm
First, thanks for writing about bipolar ii. I’m waiting for the book.
Second, your school in Philly, is it kinderten elementary? My mom is a teacher there.
Third, I’d love you have you as a guest blogger on cocoamamas if you ever have time.
Thanks,
LaToya
Mimi
08/05/2010 at 1:00 pm
Hi bassey,
I work for a poetry project in Cape Town, South Africa. Please can you contact me on the email provided.
Best
Mimi
Vanessa Reynolds
09/05/2010 at 4:40 pm
Hey. I found you through a Google search for “Black and Bipolar”. I am also working on a book myself about being Bipolar I– the raging monster of Bipolar Disorder. I am Black, Belizean (Central America) to be exact, and I’ve been dealing with my diagnosis for six years. It’s been rough to say the least, and I’m just starting to get back into school– majoring in Psychology (hehe!). If you ever want to talk, feel free to shoot me an e-mail, and I’m vrpeacestar on Skype.
Fun fact for ya: I was born in Brooklyn! My parents transplanted me to Texas when I was three. I want to go back someday if I can to discover my roots.
Peace always,
V
dammy
09/14/2010 at 6:05 am
Hi, I came across your previous site, how do i reach you?
Anonymous
09/20/2010 at 9:26 pm
Thank you for your tweets tonight. i recently took the step of getting that help. Sad thing is I couldn’t even thank you on twitter because of the stigma involved. Hopefully people like you speaking out will help us to move forward. I wanted to send you a DM but I suppose you had to take that off
Jazmyn
09/22/2010 at 9:54 am
I love your writing Bassey and I can’t wait to see you drop the book and “moonwalk the fuck off the stage.”
M.D.
10/28/2010 at 12:23 pm
I love your honesty!
CJ
11/11/2010 at 5:14 am
Greetings Bassey,
I hope that you are well. I was recently introduced to some of your work and I really wanted to reach out. I wrote you 2 emails but rather than post there contents here, I am hoping to send them to you directly. Mostly, my goal is to say thank you for being you and for inviting us along on your journey. I hope to hear from you.
Be encouraged. Be blessed. Continue to be your best,
C
PATRICK
11/14/2010 at 10:22 am
QUE DIEU TE BENISSE. GOD BLESS U
Shelleypg19@aol.com
11/17/2010 at 3:43 pm
I wanted to write to you in private but I couldn’t find an email. My comment to you is about your article on Kanye West. I also believe that he is a better soul than his actions would sometime lead people to believe. To me, he seems to have a good heart and I honestly don’t think he would actually hurt a fly. My question to you is this. Why did you call Taylor Swift condescending? Why couldn’t she have simply come to the same conclusion that you and I did? I saw nothing like that in her actions or words. I think she sees a tortured artist as well. I felt that actually you were putting her down for no reason and not giving HER the benefit of the doubt.
Cynthia
06/16/2011 at 8:56 pm
I too am nigerian born, but dc bred & I love the way you express yourself candidly. My family & I just recently had to grapple with my younger sister’s diagnosis of schizophrenia (not a definitive diagnosis) so they’re calling it psychosis. Anyway has your illness affected your family structure with the stigma of mental illness in african cultures? Any advice you can offer is greatly appreciated!! Shonola307@hotmail.com
Cynthia
06/16/2011 at 8:57 pm
I too am nigerian born, but dc bred & I love the way you express yourself candidly. My family & I just recently had to grapple with my younger sister’s diagnosis of schizophrenia (not a definitive diagnosis) so they’re calling it psychosis. Anyway has your illness affected your family structure with the stigma of mental illness in african cultures? Any advice you can offer is greatly appreciated!!
pswayne
07/30/2011 at 3:53 pm
We may actually be the exact same person. I always love your writing and admissions. If you’re a Sagittarius, all hell is going to break loose.
jusRhae
08/07/2011 at 5:29 pm
I’m just glad that you exist!! Real shit.
angirach
09/10/2011 at 10:53 pm
I’ve known about you for a long time and I’ve always liked your style of writing and delivery, then I found you on twitter which led me to your blog and I have to say a resounding – Thank you. I relate to you on many levels, I’m an immigrant, a minority and bi polar.
I appreciate you writing and speaking openly about Bi-polar disorder, I feel like depression and other mental issues are often brushed under the carpet or dismissed and nonsensical. I feel spoken for.
Please do not stop writing.
Jasmine@thebrokins.com
11/10/2011 at 12:20 am
I can’t find any contact info and I wanted to send you an email question. Where is your contact info?