Name: Joekenneth Museau
Profession: Freelance Creative
Age: 25
One Word That Describes You: Evolving
Writing can be a complicated profession whether you’re an industry veteran or a fresh-faced new jack. For Brooklyn-based author and self-described “freelance creative,” Joekenneth Museau, his life and pen both share an intriguing story.
Inspired through finding his own voice in writing, Museau learned just how helpful the pen could be in trying moments. “Writing helped me through many difficult times in my life,” Museau told BE Modern Man exclusively. “Most people and academic institutions didn’t encourage others to pursue creative careers, but after going to college and working jobs that I didn’t like, I decided to follow my own passion for the arts.” In 2013, he penned his first book, Tales of a Troubled Romantic, and began hosting poetry readings to get his name out.
Museau had his friends and family supporting him as he went after his well-earned dreams. “I haven’t had my share of haters or dissenters, and if I did, then I must’ve ignored them to the point where they were non-factors. Regardless of the medium I chose to express myself, my friends and family have always encouraged me.”
When we asked Museau why young men of color aren’t seeing enough of their own heroes in pop culture, and what can be done to change that, he said, “I don’t need the media to tell me how I should live my life. The younger generation should, and need, to know that they can tell their stories in their own unique way. As long as they keep in mind that they should strive to help others through their work, then they would break through the static and make an impact among their peers.”
On the next page, read how Joekenneth Museau diversified his portfolio and his advice to millennials about social media…
Books are threatened by myriad things in the 21st century. From iWhatevers to streaming to gaming, the millennial generation has access to many devices that may cause distractions as they navigate through their course to success and empowerment. To that, Museau has some eager words of advice: “Social media has its perks when it comes to broadening your audience, but when it’s time to work, please set that aside in favor of completing an assignment. I’ve realized that a daily digital detox is incredibly important to increasing one’s creative output.”
After his initial debut received critical acclaim, Museau continued to diversify his portfolio by dabbling into mediums such as art, photography, and modeling. From collaborating with Banana Republic in 2014 for its fall campaign to working with fellow BE Modern Man Tristan Walker and his Bevel shaving brand, Museau masterfully blended syntax with charm for an extra element of dopeness to his career. Currently, the 25-year-old creative is preparing his second book, Days After Your Departure
, which will come out in collaboration with VSCO this year.As a man with strong character, intuitive sensibilities, and a dedicated fan base, Museau believes there is “room for growth” when it comes to his impact within the African American community. “I hope my generation sees me as an artist comfortable in his skin and confident in his abilities to contribute something meaningful to society,” he tells us exclusively. “It is what I am trying to do with my second book—encourage others to tell their story regardless of how ravaged or triumphant it is.” Days After Your Departure
chronicles Museau’s maturity after his mother’s death following her fight with progressive colon cancer from 2008 to 2012.One of our inaugural BE Modern Men, Museau, a man who exhibits strength, resiliency, fortitude, and a true dedication to excellence, is worthy of the distinction. “The BE Modern Man is a gentleman of purpose,” Museau says. “Possessing a keen awareness that his achievements are not only for himself, but for his community and future generations. He is a cultured man who sees more importance in the power of a passport than material things. The BE Modern Man will champion emotional bravery and find romance in all that he does because love is the motivating force behind all good things.”
With that so eloquently said, we at Black Enterprise salute Joekenneth Museau, for contributing positive images of men of color to the masses. His mission of providing powerful prose and offering it to like-minded souls around the world frames us in an enthusiastic light, and is meant to be celebrated and appreciated.
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