We recently had the chance to connect with Dr. Jerry Grimes and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Jerry, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What battle are you avoiding?
Perhaps it is the result of swiftly approaching fifty years of age, but I am happily avoiding arguments. I am happy to have conversations with anyone, and I find healthy, respectful debates to be generative. However, I have reached a point in my personal development where I prefer empathizing with someone’s situation in life over arguing with them.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am all over the place happily. I am currently a doctoral candidate at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, specializing in the field of Religious History. I am also the leader of a rural congregation in Iron Mine, North Carolina, known as Peter’s Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church. I am also a former candidate for the United States House of Representatives in North Carolina, a former pastor in the Chicagoland area, and a former Vice Chairperson of the Transportation Authority in the greater Wayne County area in Eastern North Carolina. My passions, plain and simple, are comic books and Hip-Hop, and my most incredible privilege in life is being a dad. I am also a Teaching Fellow at the University of North Carolina, where I teach courses such as Religious Freedom in America. My goal is, and has always been, to be more than one thing. No one can be all things to everyone, but I strive to be as much as I can with the time I have been given.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
What breaks the bonds between people is the absence of empathy and consideration. Increasingly, my rule of thumb is, “Assume that everyone you encounter is having a rough day.” Whether someone is having a rough day or not, being sensitive to where we all are in this life provides a great place from which to relate to one another. A lack of compassion breaks bonds, but patience, compassion, and a willingness to hear someone out can definitely restore them.
Do you remember a time someone truly listened to you?
Absolutely. Aside from my parents, I am fortunate to have a mentor named Dr. James Henry Harris. Professor Harris was my instructor during my initial graduate studies in Richmond, Virginia, twenty years ago. Dr. Harris consistently demonstrated a genuine interest in me both as a student and as a person. His encouragement, advice, and patience with my growth inform and inspire my goals of serving as an instructor in a small collegiate setting.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
They would say that being a great dad is incredibly important to me. They would also say that I almost obsess over things I want to accomplish, but that I can also be ridiculous and hilarious. Student development matters to me because I believe in the necessity of critical thinking. The arts and philosophy hold great significance for me, as they cultivate civility and promote a sense of being at peace with oneself and others. My closest friends would concur that these things matter the most to me.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. When have you had to bet the company?
Every time I pursued a higher academic degree, I had to relinquish a substantial salary. A close mentor of mine told me that I gave away more than most may ever earn, but the opportunity to study with some of the most brilliant people in the world was well worth whatever sacrifices I made. Having said that, I have every intention of entirely rebuilding the company that I operated with my long-time colleagues Aaron Philip Clark, Luther Wayne Truesdell, and Marc “DJ Mean Marc” Thompson, which is called the CAVE AudioVisual Enterprise, or simply, CAVE. CAVE is an artistic and intellectual clubhouse, where we develop popular literature, music, movies, comics, and whatever else we can conceive. There are basically no rules. We are a group of creators who get together and create, and over the past few years, we have produced several projects, and Aaron, our resident superstar, is enjoying an incredible publishing career, having most recently worked with Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.JerryGrimes.com
Image Credits
Photo Two: Marc “DJ Mean Marc” Thompson, [email protected]
Photo Three: The Durham Herald-Sun
