Lauren Wilson Brings Life and Authenticity to Afro-Bougie Blues and the Art of Storytelling

Exploring African American Lives With Depth and Universality

Lauren Wilson discusses her inspiration behind Afro-Bougie Blues, her unique storytelling approach, insights on African American middle-class experiences, engineering influences, spiritual reflections, and her commitment to impactful traditions and community.

Lauren Wilson is a name that stands proudly in the literary world as a masterful storyteller, a beacon of creativity, and a woman of remarkable depth and versatility. With over 40 years dedicated to the art of poetry and prose, she has graced readers with compelling narratives that delve into the heart of the human experience. Her acclaimed collection, Afro-Bougie Blues, is a testament to her ability to craft characters and stories that resonate universally, while also shining a light on the nuances of African American middle-class life. From exploring themes such as trauma, love, colourism, and perseverance, Lauren’s work effortlessly bridges the gap between the deeply personal and the broadly relatable.

What sets Lauren apart is not only her talent but also the richness of her personal journey. An engineer by profession and a writer by passion, she weaves her multifaceted experiences into her storytelling with authenticity and grace. Her characters inhabit real, textured worlds, defined by their careers, relationships, and struggles—a reflection of her own realities. Beyond her writing, Lauren is a woman of tradition, intellect, and devotion, as seen in her annual “King Thing” celebration commemorating Dr Martin Luther King Jr., as well as her joyful immersion in African American art and history.

As we sat down with Lauren for this enlightening interview, we were reminded of the way literary greats inspire not only with their works but with their voices—the way they think, reflect, and connect. Lauren Wilson’s perspective, shaped by her remarkable life experiences, offers readers not only stories to treasure but also life lessons to ponder. It is our absolute pleasure to present this conversation with a woman whose passion, artistry, and humanity shine through in everything she creates.

“Lauren Wilson exemplifies brilliance and authenticity, crafting stories that deeply resonate while celebrating African American voices and universal human experiences.“

What inspired you to write Afro-Bougie Blues, and how did you choose the stories included in the collection?

The stories in Afro-Bougie Blues are the product of my muse – a characteristic of having bipolar disorder with manic episodes which manifest as a spurt of creative writing. When my muse comes, I write about a topic I’ve seen or experienced, but with original characters and feelings, and outcomes that are far different from what I have known.  I wrote about abortion, PTSD and alcoholism, losing a parent,  love affairs, dieting, single parenthood and teenaged love, colorism, and sister-friends. If I ever write a sequel, it would include a COVID story, electing Obama and death of a child. But I need to wait until I have 10 good stories.

How has your experience as an African American woman and engineer influenced your storytelling and the themes you explore in your writing?

All my characters are African American. I picked the title Afro-Bougie Blues to indicate middle class people with real problems that have nothing to do with money. I have found that many of my white friends who have read the book find it completely relatable. My characters’ experiences tend to be universal. As for engineering, my characters have jobs and careers, like serving in the military, working in a lab, coaching a college team; often, their jobs are a part of how they define themselves.

Can you share more about your journey with Nichiren Buddhism and how it has shaped your worldview and storytelling?

I was introduced to Nichiren Buddhism by my godmother at age 17; it was a major part of my life for the next 10 years, and I still turn to it when I have an overwhelming desire for spirituality.  Nichiren Buddhism is different from other sects in that its only tenets are to chant, and to do no harm. Chanting would then enable you to elevate your consciousness to a state of positivity, even in bad situations. There is no guilt, no forgiveness, no divine being, no permanent heaven or hell. If you do bad things, there will always be a result that you have to live with and work out.  As a result, my characters may do or experience bad things, but, with one exception, they must work it out themselves. There is one exception – in “Falling”, there is a hell; I wrote the story to be an amusing parable. But in general, my characters don’t have a church background. I realize that this may make them different from so many African Americans whose lives are rooted in the church, but that is something I can’t write about.

The King Thing is a unique and meaningful tradition—what impact do you think it has had on those who’ve attended over the years?

MLK Day became a federal holiday in 1986, right when I was finishing college, and very few of the places I’ve worked in private industry gave me that day off. Many of my colleagues would take the day off, but I felt one of the things King fought for was my right to have a job based on my credentials. So, the King Thing was always on a Sunday, conflicting with the football playoffs, so mainly women came. I would share the “I Have a Dream” speech and one of King’s speeches or sermons, then invite everyone to talk about how we move forward. I always invited a mix of black and white friends, because I found that the discussions were better when more well-rounded, and while my black friends came away energized, my white friends came away educated and immersed in an African American experience.

Which authors or books have had the most profound influence on your writing style and perspective?

My mother introduced me to mysteries in my teens and my father introduced me to science fiction. So that is mostly what I read. But occasionally, I read African American fiction; the stories I’ve loved tend to have strong women characters, like the Women of Brewster Place by Gloria Naylor and What Looks Like Crazy on an Ordinary Day by Pearl Cleage.  I have also read all of J. California Cooper’s short stories and find that they are warm and loving.  Cooper and Naylor inspired me to write short stories with depth and resolution in a short package, inspired by love and family.