Joshua N'Gon: Last Prince of Alkebulahn.
When I started writing about Black people in alternate histories, a lot of folks in publishing told me, “There’s no market for that.” Stick
to what sells, they said. “Write something safe.” But here’s the thing about that brand of crazy: it gives you immunity to everyone else’s limits. Their lines don’t have to be yours. Do you know who else was “out there”? The Wright brothers. They weren’t engineers but bike mechanics who thought, “Hey, we can build a flying machine.” They had no training, no support—just pure belief. Or take Spike Lee. He maxed out credit cards to make She’s Gotta Have It. Prince literally wrote “Slave” on
his face to protest his record label. These people didn’t need permission to break boundaries. And neither do you.
Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying be reckless. There’s a line between creative madness and total chaos. Productive crazy stays grounded; it does the homework, takes calculated risks, and learns from every setback. Destructive crazy is the kind that jumps without checking for a
parachute. So, let your brand of crazy steer you—just make sure it’s pointed in the right direction.
Look, sometimes being a little crazy means seeing connections others miss. I’ve written stories that mix quantum physics and African spirituality. Some people think that’s bizarre. But to me, it’s like two pieces of the same puzzle. The quantum world, where things can be in two places at once? It’s
not so different from African spirituality, where time’s not a straight line. That’s the kind of crazy that opens new doors.
Maybe you’re thinking, “I’m not trying to change the universe. I want to write a book, start a business or pursue my dream.” Let me tell you something: any act of creation takes a pinch of crazy. You must believe you can pull off something you’ve never done before. You have to
be a little bit nuts to keep going when everyone says stop.
So here’s my advice: nurture that crazy spark. Feed it with knowledge, train it with discipline, and aim it somewhere that matters. It’s the crazy people who change the world. Einstein and Tesla—were called “mad” until their madness became everyone else’s reality.
If I spoke to
my editor today, I’m sure he would still think I’m nuts, but in a good way. So go ahead—be a little crazy. Because, honestly? The universe isn’t going to shake itself up.
It needs you to do that.
Until next week, family.
Peace, love and
power.
