Danielle Maya Banks

The heart & Brains
 

I was drawn to the work of journalist and researcher Isabel Wilkerson long before I began my own sociological research. The Warmth of Other Suns, her Pulitzer Prize winning work on the Great Migration of southern blacks to Northern and coastal U.S. cities, planted the seed for my own interest in history and identity — a research focus that would carry me to the bloodied, gold-lined coasts of Ghana, Africa, years later.

Through Wilkerson’s work, my own identity as a writer/researcher was born -- a launch, that like all great literary catalysts, was born of a desire to write the wrongs of this world. Today, I have six years of freelance journalism experience. My portfolio includes clips from publications under the Chicago Defender Newspaper Charities, Honeymane, a black woman -owned Hair & Beauty start up, and a local newspaper, where I write a recurring column.

At the same time, I have worked to build my personal brand, Pastelle. I offer copy, ghost and speech writing, as well as editing services to a diverse client base. This Spring, one of my speeches was delivered at the UN in honor of Women’s History Month, my highest honor to date. My intuitive sense of grammar and syllabic sound — and ability to work efficiently under pressure— make me a meticulous editor.

My passion for illustrative storytelling and enduring obligation to truth make me a journalist.

For my clients here at Pastelle, my role is unbound by the genre, style, or purpose of the writing need.