On the long list of renaissance women whose lives have been forever changed because of the platform they received through playing in the WNBA, Simone Edwards is certainly on that list.
Edwards had the distinction of being the first Jamaican-born woman ever to hoop in the W and she had a career that spanned nine years — most notably with the Seattle Storm, where she was part of the 2004 WNBA championship team. Edwards also had a short-lived stint in New York with the Liberty.
Prior to her hanging up her jersey, she established the Simone4Children Foundation which helps kids that are underprivileged with the skills they need to be successful in both school and life. Among what she has done as the organization’s founder includes donating an educational building in Jamaica as well as the creation of the Anti-Bully Project.
She also, recently, released a new book entitled “Unstoppable.” She chatted with Rolling Out Magazine about the book and her inspiration behind it.
Initially, the book was titled Rise of the Jamaican Hurricane, my nickname in the WNBA, but that will be the title of my film adaptation. Since the premise of my life story was persevering despite obstacle after obstacle, that defined being unstoppable.
–Simone Edwards to Rolling Out Magazine
She says she penned the book because she wanted readers to get a clearer idea of what it is like to grow up in a poverty-ridden village in a not-so-rich country and how she always maintained a sense of optimism to accomplish what she set out to accomplish.
One person in particular, according to Edwards, deserves a great deal of credit with helping her in this process.
I was able to partner with the talented writer and cultural researcher, Jobi Tyson, who was certain there was something magical about the ability to transform unbearable circumstances into beautiful scenes that reveal a deeper truth.
–Simone Edwards to Rolling Out Magazine
She also mentioned how getting to that point included interviewing over 50 people — story characters and that she and Tyson co-founded Diverse Writers Room which strives to tell stories of underrepresented individuals in media.
If there was one thing that she would change about the world, it would be how certain individuals believe that they are better than others simply because of what they have.
If I could change something about the world, it would be the mindset of people who think they are better than others because of their differences in an effort to make the world more loving and kind.
–Simone Edwards to Rolling Out Magazine
By: Akiem Bailum (@AkiemBailum on Twitter, Instagram)
