Bertrand Cooper is one of my favorite thinkers and writers for The Atlantic, Current Affairs and elsewhere; here on Launching Deeply he reveals the reality of being a working writer who comes from poverty and his concern that a true “poor Black experience” can’t actually penetrate Hollywood because so few figureheads actually hail from poor Black backgrounds like his (and we have a wide-ranging discussion on class). Cooper’s writing on the subject has gone viral in recent years, and he is one of the sharpest observers to pay attention to.
Just as you might not relate to many female narratives depicted on screen or neurodivergent narratives found across social media, you will find a rich discussion on all of the above in this episode.
I’m holding a Podcast discussion group next Tuesday at 5pm PST — upgrade here for a limited time — these are intimate conversations that I look forward to every two weeks.
This second episode of Launching Deeply is full of real talk on the reality of publishing, working in creative industries, the journey from magazines and online writing to authoring books, being vulnerable in public, and more. All podcast conversations and our regular group calls pull back the curtain on inner life and the practical realities of writing and publishing. I hope you enjoy and forward to fellow creatives.
Yours deeply,
Jenara
Straddling Highs and Lows with Bertrand Cooper