L’Monique King is a native of New York. She was born in New York City and later made a move to Brooklyn, before spending much of her young adult years in Jamaica, Queens. She eventually moved to Upstate New York.
It was the intense cold of the upstate area, along with a friend’s suggestion that King could find a vibrant art scene and affordable housing in Charlotte that brought her to the Queen City.
In 2007, housing in Charlotte was substantially more affordable, and the lower cost prompted many artists, musicians and other individuals exploring the creative arena to take a leap and see what the city had to offer.
King found just what she was looking for: affordable housing and an opportunity to start her own spoken word and poetry night.
In the years that have passed, King has turned her focus towards her career as a program manager with Quality Comprehensive Health Center, a non-profit that aims to making healthcare more accessible for underserved communities.
David Aaron Moore: Why do you think so many people want to live in Charlotte?
L’Monique King: Because it’s pretty and it feels like a combination of big city and small town. The lower cost of living is appealing, although it’s not as low as it used to be. The Atlanta Exodus prompted a lot of people to come here. Charlotte has a lot to offer, lots of diversity and growing cultural expansion.
DAM: Who do you share your life with?
LMK: My partner, Toii. We met in August 15, 1996 at a bar in Greenwich Village called Crazy Nannies. We’ve actually been married twice. Once was a church wedding in 2009, before it was recognized as legal and we got a certificate. Then we got married again in 2017, after marriage equality was recognized by the government.
DAM: Do you have a pet?
LMK: Yes! We have a Shorkie. He’s a crossbreed between a Shih Tzu and a Yorkshire Terrier. He’s a bit needy, but a lot of fun. His name is Cairo.
DAM: What part of Charlotte do you live in?
LMK: We live on the northwest side. It’s a brick ranch house and we’ve lived there since 2007.
DAM: Since it’s Black History month let’s talk about some of your favorite historic Black musicians. Tell me about your top favorite three.
LMK: Oh, that’s easy. Nina Simone, Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder.
DAM: I know you did a spoken word night for a long time and I know that’s not so much of your life anymore, but I’m certain you still have an appreciation for creative art. Let’s dive into the music a little bit more. Doesn’t have to be related to Black History month. Tell me what you currently have on rotation.
LMK: “Grateful.” It’s Gospel House by Kenny Bobian. “Water” by Tyler. That’s neo soul. “Free Minds” by TEMS, also neo soul. “Believer” by Imagine Dragons, rock and “Hot Shot,” by Karen Young. That last one is some ol’ skool disco.
DAM: I know you like to travel a lot. Tell me about some of the places you’ve been and the impact they had on you?
LMK: In the United States I would say the place that had the biggest impact on me was Charleston, South Carolina. Outside of the United States I definitely like Saint Vincent West Indies. Beautiful largest black sand beaches in the world. House plants that you see here are the size of trees there. It’s also the place where Toii proposed to me.
DAM: What makes you laugh?
LMK: Intelligent humor. Deon Cole, Wanda Sykes. But there are so many others. George Carlin. He was really witty and unapologetically political. And he does it all with such a foul mouth. I have to say Carol Burnett and Lily Tomlin, too.
DAM: You asked me this question when you interviewed me a few weeks ago. Now I’m going to ask you. What unnerves you, or like you said, what gets on your last nerve?
LMK: When people say, “on today.” Racism, younger people who don’t have a grasp of technology Beyond apps, gaming and shopping. We are living in an era where everybody needs to have a basic grasp of technology that helps us to live our lives better.
DAM: So many little things come together to make one L’Monique. Tell us two of your television programs and two of you favorite films.
LMK: Hmmmm. Let’s see, television. “Fellow Travelers” and “Black Cake.” For movies? “Black Panther” and “Devil’s Advocate.”
DAM: Another thing I know about you is your appreciation for spoken word and poetry. Tell me about a few of your favorite poets and speakers.
LMK: Sonya Sanchez, James Baldwin and Angela Davis.
DAM: In the years we’ve worked together I have found you to be a mish-mash of organized and not. How do you manage your time?
LMK: (laughs) With an electronic calendar and a weekly planner. We’re talking one of the those planners you write in. And the electronic calendar is on my phone. I love that!
DAM: Of all the Our People columns you have done over the past few years, which one left a permanent impact on you?
LMK: Reverend Dr. Benjamin Boswell. I cried during our conversation. I met him at his “Confronting Whiteness” conference. He’s white and he adopted a black daughter. He believes it is his job to speak with marginalized and oppressed people, ask what needs to be done and follow their lead. He was such a breath of fresh air. https://qnotescarolinas.com/our-people-rev-dr-benjamin-boswell/
DAM: Words of advice for anyone of any age who wants to do anything?
LMK: If it makes you happy, if you can’t breathe without it and you’d do it even if you aren’t getting paid for it, then it’s important and you shouldn’t let something like that get away from you.
