James Black: Person of the Week
Instagram: @Jamesblackacter
Q. If you are in recovery, what was your drug(s) of choice and when is your sobriety date?
A. I over indulged many times. 12-21-2001.
Q. What do you like most about 12-step meetings?
A. I love the community and camaraderie.
Q. Do you think addiction is an illness, disease, a choice, or a wicked twist of fate?
A. I believe it’s an allergy to alcohol, and an illness.
Q. Who is your favorite celebrity in recovery?
A. There are so many people I admire which I prefer to remain anonymous.
Q. If you ever retire, would you prefer to live by the ocean, lake, river, mountaintop, desert, or penthouse?
A. I’d like to live in a penthouse on a mountaintop in the desert with a lake and a river running through my property.
A. Yes, prayer and meditation.
Q. How do you measure success?
A. By the love in my life.
Q. What is your biggest pet peeve?
A. I don’t have pet peeves just one pet. I like to meet people where they are, and love and uplift and always ask what is the lesson to be learned.
A. Poverty all around the world.
Q. Who has been the biggest influence throughout your life?
A. I owe everything to my mother.
Q. From what school of thought or teacher did you learn the most from?
A. My 4th grade teacher Ms. King always said “What you do is so loud – I can’t hear what you say.” That tells me to be in action. Do, not tell.
Q. Where are you from and where do you reside now?
A. I’m from Cleveland then moved to the small town of Dover, OH with a population of approx 14,000. I now live in Los Angeles in the Fairfax District.
Q. If you were giving a dinner party for your 3 favorite authors, living or dead, who would they be?
A. James Baldwin – Toni Morrison and Langston Hughes. What happens to a dream deferred, does it dry up? Let’s not find out, get into action my friends.
Q. What’s your concept of a Higher Power?
A. My idea of a higher power is too big to describe. As long as it isn’t named James, I’m in good shape.
Q. What book(s) have you read more than once?
A. The Bible – “The Obstacle is the Way” – “Don’t Take Anything Personally”
Q. Which film have you watched the most?
The Departed with Jack Nicholson. Great movie, do yourself a favor and watch it.
Q. Who is your favorite film director?
A. Spike Lee. Mo’ Better Blues – Mo’ Better makes it Mo’ Better.
Q. What surprised you most about living sober?
A. How much fun it is.
Q. If you could give advice to your younger self what would it be?
A. Save your money.
Q. What books are you reading now?
A. “The Four Agreements”
Q. What is your favorite App?
A. WhatsApp. I can make free international calls – love that.
Q. Are you binge watching any TV series?
A. Nope – I’m open to suggestions.
Q. What is your favorite play or musical?
A. Wicked.
A. Denzel Washington.
Q. What is your favorite musician and or band?
A. Sarah Vaughan.
Q. What is one word you would use to describe yourself?
A. Awesome.
Q. What is your favorite city?
A. Los Angeles.
Q. What sport(s) do you like to play or watch?
A. Track.
Q. What is your favorite restaurant?
A. I don’t have one – but I love a good breakfast burrito.
Q. What is your favorite cuisine?
A. Lately, I love cooking chicken.
Q. What is the best piece of advice someone has given you?
A. Don’t be Johnny-on-the-spot – you don’t have to be available to all people all the time.
Q. What is the best piece of advice you’ve given someone else?
A. Be nice to yourself.
Q. Have you ever been arrested and, if so, what for?
A. Many times – being in places I shouldn’t have been – speeding in parts of town I wasn’t welcome in.
Q. What is one thing that always makes you smile?
A. Kids laughing.
Q. What was the proudest moment in your life?
A. Getting sober and showing up to life.
Q. What is a style trend you wish would come back?
A. I look forward to polyester shirts and bell bottom jeans coming back.
Q. What do you love most about yourself?
A. I love to smile.
Q. What are five things you always carry with you?
A. Pants, heart, spirit, higher power, forgiveness.
Q. What is your biggest fear?
A. Running out of time.
Q. Where do you go when you want to be alone?
A. Inside.
Q. What is your biggest regret?
A. I don’t have any. Everything has made me who I am, which I love.
Q. What is the greatest risk you’ve ever taken?
A. Moving to Los Angeles.
Q. What is something you are currently curious about?
A. I wonder what it’s like to be in an alternate universe.