Alexus Rhone
WooHoo! I’ve always remembered the signature call from the one and only Alexus Rhone (Miss Alexus from Texas!). I met Alexus in 2001 in the class that started my seminary journey. Right when we first met, I knew she was a force to be reckoned with. A published author and accomplished artist, Alexus brought a depth of knowledge and deep understanding of mystery to theological engagement, something that was severely lacking in many theological circles.. But more than that, she brought laughter and good story, and was never convinced that truths were only housed within seminary walls. She knew that the real theology was in coffeeshops in Inglewood, at poetry readings, and dance parties. Most importantly, she encouraged and cultivated others to share their stories. She is a master teacher, and master storyteller, and we are honored to feature her dopeness!
Alexus Rhone, artistic theologian. revolutionary artist.
Tell us who you are!
I am Alexus Grace with a Ghanian heart and a Texas twang who tells stories about the resilience of black girls and black women. (Hey auntie!)
What inspires you?
I'm currently under the inspirational spell of Audre Lorde. Sister Outsider is a collection of her essays and speeches that I carry with me along with my bible. I'm also a fan of the Psalms and the prophetic texts (aka, the bible that Jesus read). #LordJesusandAudreLorde
What are one or two lessons you carry with you each day?
"Lo, I am with you always (and that's not a little thing)."
Love,
Jesus
What are you working on?
"Ancient of Ways: For Colored Girls Who've Considered Ifa When Jesus Came Up Short" - a stage production about a black Christian woman exploring an African indigenous religion.
How do you connect spirituality/religion in your work?
I am a reverently irreverent follower of Jesus Christ who embraces mystery and who believes the answer with the most integrity, a lot of times, is "I don't know." My works represent a bold element of questioning the collective unconscious, that is, the things we've been taught to think and believe. In "Ancient of Ways," for example, the main character is a Christian. However, her seeker-searcher journey does not dismiss her Christian foundation. It provides a filter through which she examines a different belief system aligned with her African roots as opposed to Jewish ones.
Where were you when you saw your most memorable sunset?
My most memorable sunset was January 1993. I was working a post-disaster assignment in Islamorada, Florida (following Hurricane Andrew). My mother had flown down from Texas to hang out for the weekend. We drove to Key West late one afternoon to participate in the sunset celebration, a nightly ritual on the island. It was a rowdy scene followed by a somber reverence as the sun set. We arrived in time to take in some of the flavor on the streets. Mom had tucked my Nino Brown cellphone in her purse (a company-issued relic in case someone at my office needed to reach me). One of the street performers - a guy covered head to toe in gold metallic paint - pulled my mother on the stand with him. I was in the audience cracking up laughing when both of them suddenly looked down at mom’s purse. She pulled out the ringing “brick”. I screamed, made a mad-dash towards the stand, snatched the phone and raced towards a quieter spot. As I ran away from the crowd I heard raucous laughter. I turn around to find the street performer chasing me. I dodged him by running into a souvenir shop and taking the call. And all at once everything stopped - all fanfare, all street activity - right before the sun dipped into the horizon. My call ended just in time for me to take in the majestic sunset, to hear the sounding of the bell and the cheers from the crowd. That was my most memorable sunset.