Urban Echelon : "Weekly Spotlight" - Black Love - Interview with Rochon and Jasmine Hall

This week’s spotlight is shining on Rochon and Jasmine Hall. Rochon is an excellent and skilled photographer as well as immensely inclined musically as a producer and rapper. Jasmine, while juggling talents such as modeling and writing poetry, maintains her gift of inspiring many through her awesome daily motivational messages shared via Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter (she is also in the process of writing two books that I will keep readers posted on). I had the pleasure of knowing the Hall’s during their tenure at Tuskegee University and the couple embodies such a positive loving spirit not only to themselves but to others as well.

Before the interview, I wanted to examine the importance of black love in our communities and the gap between complacency in NO TITLES and the union of marriage. I believe the usage of the “no title” excuse is a cover-up for not being hurt by possible unmet expectations. Your parents didn’t have a healthy relationship which in turns changes your view on how your relationship should go. Despite being a witness to an unhealthy relationship I still feel that I am worthy of happiness and a solid commitment. Black love is a beautiful thing. To meet that one person who accepts all of you and supports, understands, values, connects with, and undeniably respects you is quite amazing. Black people are very capable of acquiring and maintaining healthy relationships and regardless of what may be said by young black adults, we all want that. The recent passing of the late, great Ruby Dee is a sad occasion, but she can now finally rest with her husband Mr. Ossie Davis. They acknowledged that whether in this life or the next they will always be together. I watched them in movies and in interviews as a child, and enjoyed seeing them embracing life as one grand unit. Remember: Our Black IS Beautiful. I mean that in every sense of the phrase. Our minds, our love, our men, our women, our souls, our future, as well as our culture and heritage.

Hi Rochon and Jasmine, thank you for taking the time to talk with me on behalf of Urban Echelon, I am very excited to display more of our young movers and shakers who are bringing the REAL to our respective environments.

Where is home?

Jasmine: Huntsville, Alabama

Rochon how long have you been a photographer? (as a hobby and professional)

I’ve been shooting for about 5 years now. It started off as a hobby to make some extra money, then turned out to be something I love doing. I think I love it so much because, it is a way for me to turn my crazy visions into art that I can look back on and be like “dope”.

Jasmine when did you begin writing poetry and expressing yourself through “love messages” as I call them?

I began writing when I was probably in the fourth grade. I kept several journals during my childhood which also encouraged me to write at such a young age. I dealt with a lot growing up emotionally and physically and because I was a child no one had time to sit and listen to me; therefore, I used writing as an outlet not knowing that it would soon become a passion of mine. I began expressing myself through “love messages” when I was in high school. I dated a guy who I thought I would spend the rest of my life with and when we broke up, it triggered an emotion that caused me to write again.

Jasmine do you believe society today has a clear view of what they want, who they are, and where they are going (spiritually, emotionally, intellectually, etc.)?

I believe that there are a few in today’s society that are very in tuned with who they are becoming and what they “think” they want. Where someone is going spiritually, in my opinion, cannot be determined by the human eye because everyone’s spiritual journey is different and belongs to just them. Our society wants to produce shallow, egotistical individuals, but a lot of people are going against the grain. I’ve noticed that some people would like to find themselves and grow spiritually, but they find it impossible because of the way the world is now. So no, I don’t believe society has a clear view of what they want, who they are, and where they’re going, but I do believe that certain individuals do.

Rochon, if you had the ability to be invisible for one day with your camera what scenes would you capture?

I would love to just capture individuals behind closed doors, and not like that. Old people, young people, children etc. Many people today are afraid to express certain emotions outside of home for the fear of being looked at or judged. Moments in life don’t last forever, which is where I come in.

Three words to describe your spouse. (both you guys respond for this)

Jasmine: Soft spoken, brave, and optimistic (described by Rochon)

Rochon: Dedicated, compassionate and focused (described by Jasmine)

What are your opinions on the status of relationships (friendship, dating, and marriage) in the young black community?

Jasmine: My opinion on the status of relationships in the young Black community today is that we/re confused. Relationships were once valued in the past because different forms of pain were present for example, Civil Rights, wars (which separated families), and fewer opportunities. We believe that if we’re given more freedom then more will be accomplished but that is a lie. Now that we have more opportunities as African Americans, we take them for granted. The music that we listen to promotes promiscuous behavior. Now that we have our own shows on television, which too promotes the wrong sexual behavior, it teaches us that it’s okay to tear families apart. So many of us are still taking advantage of the government when we now have access to education or even owning our own businesses. All of this plays an important role in our foundation for building healthy relationships. We become so consumed with pleasing others physically that we fail to establish ourselves and even the people around us. I often times wonder that if we were put into our great- grandparents shoes, we would not survive a day. We think that we are strong, especially our women, but we’re weak mentally and emotionally. We, as women, pride ourselves on being strong single mothers, but will continue to be with men who we aren’t entitled to. The men pride themselves on being great fathers by just putting clothes on their children’s backs. I could go on, but I’ll just say we’re confused. (laughs)

Rochon: A lot of relationships these days aren’t built on a solid foundation; Trust, willingness, love, dedication just to name a few. African American relationships in the past were built on uplifting each other as a whole because we were working towards a common goal. Now, we all seem to be crabs in a bucket fighting to get to the top. I’m old fashion so I believe the principals of the bible led you in the right direction, but it seems that people are following society’s advice rather than following the blueprint that has been laid out for you already. How to dress, who to date, how to look, what to eat, where to go are all examples of the way society has tapped into our brains. We have to start thinking for our self. It’s okay if your marriage is in a crisis, because it can be fixed and working like no other. It’s okay if the guy/girl you’re dating isn’t a perfect 10, as long as they make you happy and treat you right. Your friend did you wrong? Who cares! Talk about it and make up. We give up way too easy in our relationships, that’s the problem. If you want something bad enough you have to WORK FOR IT!

Rochon, what advice would you have for photographers just starting out or those who are interested, but may be nervous in pursuit of their dream? Jasmine what advice would you have for those who are struggling with certain life matters and they think that life cannot progress any further than the level they are currently experiencing?

Rochon: Just get out there and DO it! It doesn’t matter what your dream is, if you aren’t putting in the work you’ll never reach them. Fake it till you make it baby… that’s what I did. And I’m still “faking” it till this day.

Jasmine: If there is someone struggling with something in life, my advice to them is to remember it’s temporary. Often times we allow a problem, no matter how big or small, to consume us. Once that problem passes, we realize it wasn’t as bad as we thought it was. It’s temporary and anything that is temporary will not last forever. You can be or do ANYTHING. Stop feeling bad for yourself and acting like the victim. Someone is always going through so much worse, but they’re living. I grew up in a household where everyone played the victim so problems were never solved. I was the same way and I eventually realized that nobody cared because everyone had their own problems as well. So my advice is to be strong. Don’t do it for anyone, just do it for yourself and remember that it’s all temporary.

I want to truly thank you guys again for engaging in this conversation with me and I wish you all many more years of happiness.