Poet, fiction writer, playwright, lyricist, and librettist, Traci D. Williams, is passionate about the power of words! She is an English Doctoral student and a Graduate Teaching Assistant at Morgan State University who is majoring in Creative Writing and minoring in Multicultural and Gender Studies. At WEAA, Traci is adding to her writing skillset, learning the language of underwriting and web content. She, too, is helping fellow interns sharpen their academic writing by assisting with resumes, CVs, and graduate applications.
As a storyteller and activist, Traci, also known as Troi Justice, uses word art to promote access and equity, addressing culturally responsive teaching, race and ethnic heritage, gender, religion, ability, linguistic diversity, sexual orientation, and any nameable identity.
Among her creative accomplishments, Traci was named one of Massachusetts’ Best Emerging Poets in 2017. In 2020, her original play BOXES, which addresses colorism in the Black community and gender identity, was published in Caffé Cino Issue 3. In 2022, “Hamartia,” a classical piece which addresses acceptance and mental health struggles within the LGBTQI2S+ community was performed. She hopes you will listen and appreciate the message.
In 2023, her second libretto, “Wailing at the Moon,” written in the aftermath of the death of George Floyd, addresses interracial and same-sex relationships as well as the politics of Black Lives Matter vs. Blue Lives Matter, debuted in Philadelphia. This past May, Traci delivered an original poem, “Black, Brilliant, and Beyond,” which celebrates the essence of Black Excellence, to the honorees at Morgan’s Gilliam College of Liberal Arts. She recorded it for you to remind you of your Black Brilliance. Happy listening! Happy life!
While she is involved in many projects, including cinema, Traci, a 2015 and 2022 Jack Kent Cooke Scholar, makes her studies her priority. She looks forward to being “hooded” within the next five years.
Traci resides in Maryland with her husband, three children, and seven grandchildren.