Ottie James and Franchesca Peña

[00:05] OTTIE JAMES: Hi. My name is Ottie James Jeremy Hobdie. For those who truly know me, I am 31 years old. Today's date is October 30, 2023. We are in Mobile, Alabama. My interview partner today is Franchesca Yay. Yay for that. And, yeah, we'll just be carrying it on from here.

[00:31] FRANCHESCA PEU00F1A: Yeah. My name is Franchesca Pena. I am 27 years old. Today's date is October 30, 2023. I'm here in Mobile, Alabama, with Ottie who I just met today, and I'm excited to talk to. So, Ottie to start, if you could tell me a little bit about your upbringing, where are you from, how you ended up in mobile?

[00:52] OTTIE JAMES: So, I, um. Originally, I was born in Torrance, California, so that's La county. And my parents were out there for. I think they were. Well, my father was in the military, so they got stationed out there, and so born there in 1991. And I believe we came back to mobile when I was, like, about three or four. And originally we were basically in the city of Mobile, but we moved back to where is, like, origin for my father and mother and whatnot. And that's Pritchard, Alabama, which is still mobile county. And, yeah, we got the opportunity to live on the land that my dad grew up on. He was able to tear down the house that he grew up in and then build on that same plot. So that was beautiful, like, growing up in that space and, like, talking to neighbors and they telling me about my dad and all the things that he used to do as a kid, so, yeah, it was pretty cool, kind of, like, growing up that way.

[01:58] FRANCHESCA PEU00F1A: And did you have any siblings, or are you an only child?

[02:01] OTTIE JAMES: Yeah, yeah, definitely got siblings. I have a younger sister and an older brother. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[02:07] FRANCHESCA PEU00F1A: And how would you describe yourself as a child?

[02:11] OTTIE JAMES: As a child, I was really shy. I felt like I was, like, looking at everything under a microscope around me, you know what I'm saying? But not comfortable enough to talk about what I. The discoveries I made with other people, because I thought I was gonna be labeled as weird or whatever, you know what I'm saying? And, yeah, but it was cool, though, because, like, I always had fun, you know what I'm saying? And I kind of was a smart kid, too, so, yeah, it was fun.

[02:45] FRANCHESCA PEU00F1A: So you said you were shy, but then I also know that you do a lot of performance art now, so how did that happen? Because I think there has to be some kind of growth there.

[02:53] OTTIE JAMES: Absolutely, absolutely. So, like I say, like, I was observing the world and my surroundings in a certain way, so I feel like, I was always an artist, you know what I'm saying, even as a kid. But the first time I was able to, like, really kind of, like, express that was actually in preschool. It was a preschool called Lovejoy Academy. I was able to get my first acting role at the rape age of four. I was a little small, but, yeah, no, it was cool. I only had one line, though, you know, saying my one, like, it was two words, actually. It was, yes, sir, and that was it. And. But, you know, my. My family and everyone was, like, proud of me for the way I presented it, you know, I'm saying. So ever since then, I kind of was like, you know, I want to do a little bit more. I want to, you know, have a leading role or, you know, just a bigger role, whatever it may be, you know, I'm saying, or whatever. Whatever I have to do. And so that carried on into learning, you know, certain instruments, like piano and trumpet over time, and getting in chorus in high school and stuff. So, yeah, it was fun. Like, the, like, now, looking back, it was fun, like, to really, like, see how everything transitioned and transformed, you know what I'm saying? Yeah.

[04:23] FRANCHESCA PEU00F1A: So would you say, like, it seems like you dabbled in a little bit of everything when you were little. Like, you did some acting, but you also got exposed to instruments and all that, and, like, it makes sense now that you do multiple disciplines.

[04:35] OTTIE JAMES: Yeah, absolutely.

[04:37] FRANCHESCA PEU00F1A: I think you're spot on when you say that. There's, like, a common thread that a lot of artists have is, like, that observing that you were saying. And I feel like oftentimes, you sometimes observe things as a kid that you may not know the significance of, but it kind of stays with you and you explore that through your work. Were there any things when you think back to, like, what you were observing around you that really stayed with you and informs your artwork?

[05:01] OTTIE JAMES: Now, um, I say the most thing that informed me was, well, actually, it's two things. So, um, my spiritual upbringing, but then also, like, somewhat of the, uh, kind of lack of that, like, in my neighborhood, you know what I'm saying? So it's like, okay, I would go to church, and then I. I would experience life a certain way, you know what I'm saying? But then when I would go back home, you know, people who didn't go to church or whatever, they were a whole totally different way. But I found the beauty in both. And so it informed me to, like, be a little rough around the edges, but also be, like, pure at the same time. You know what I'm saying? And I think now I'm a reflection of that more than anything, because I think. I think a lot of times when people look at me, I just, like, quickly look at me, you know what I'm saying? They might be like, oh, he knows nothing about, you know, God or whatever. You know what I'm saying? But meanwhile, it's totally opposite.

[06:13] FRANCHESCA PEU00F1A: Yeah. You did say that spirituality is important to you. Yeah. So tell me where you stand now with your spirituality.

[06:22] OTTIE JAMES: It is everything for me. Everything. Everything I interest. Interestingly enough, this year alone has been, like, the. The most outgrown spiritually, and I can say ever. Right. And it started with. It started with me being introduced or not introduced, but more so, like. So I was in a play, right, called ocean in my bones. It's about Africatown, and the cast and I, we really, like, developed a familial type relationship, and it was all, like, praying before and after and, like, practice and whatnot. And one day, we went to what it was. Dolphin Island beach. Yeah, Dolphin Island Beach.

[07:23] FRANCHESCA PEU00F1A: I went there.

[07:24] OTTIE JAMES: Yeah. It's beautiful, right?

[07:25] FRANCHESCA PEU00F1A: Yeah, it's really nice. And I can see how that can be a spiritual place.

[07:30] OTTIE JAMES: Very much so. So we went there. We did, like, we was reading scripture, praying all together, and we did, like, a cleansing ceremony as well. And that day, like, I had some things going on before that was, like, ushering me in that. In this route. But that day, truly, like, my life, like, changed. Like, totally. So I can. I can say I became a new man that day. You know what I'm saying? I was standing on some rocks, and I was casting fruit into the water and telling Jesus, like, hey, if you want me to be who I am, I'm surrendering right now. You know what I'm saying? And, yeah, now we're here.

[08:18] FRANCHESCA PEU00F1A: So what would you say was the difference between before that ceremony and after? Like, I'm sure just by looking at you from the outside, maybe there wasn't much difference. It seems like it was an internal shift. What was that shift?

[08:31] OTTIE JAMES: I stopped thinking about myself more than I think about, like, other people and their perspectives. I feel like before, like, I had what you would call good intentions, right. But I wasn't able to execute on those good intentions very, very well, and so ended up, like, you know, kind of hurting people in. Along the way. But now I just have a better or more sound way of, like, receiving someone's perspective, even putting them before me. You know what I'm saying? And. But still, like, not being, like, not say, like, a. Like, when I say putting other people before me, it's not like I'm, like, casting myself away to the side or anything like that, but more so I'm just helping people feel comfortable first before. And if they feel comfortable, then I can feel comfortable, you know what I'm saying? And so I think that was the biggest internal shift that was made for me. Became a lot more humble, actually learned what humility meant to me, you know what I'm saying? And just started practicing and.

[09:51] FRANCHESCA PEU00F1A: Yeah, that's awesome. My grandmother was very religious, and she was, like, raised Catholic. And even if I myself, like, I don't belong to any particular church, but I've always been kind of in awe of faith. Like, she will make a lot of promises. I have this cousin, right, who was epileptic, and she had seizures and all that. And my grandma made this promise when she was born to God. And, like, one of her offerings for the promise was that she would wear this dress, like, every Sunday, without doubt. And she has kept that promise for, like, 27 years. And even when I'm young, I'm like, there has to be some, like, there's power, and, like, there's very few things that can make you commit to something like that. You know what I mean? But one of the biggest things that, like, I guess, revelations for me recently that I would want to share with you because I know it's so important to you, is I, like, sometimes pray, and I don't pray to Jesus. I pray to, like, a higher power because I'm still working out on the embodiment of that. But rather than praying for a specific outcome, I'll pray for how I want to show up in a situation. So I'll pray for things like clarity, for things like presence, rest, like things, you know, so that no matter what happens, there's still an avenue for that prayer to be answered.

[11:14] OTTIE JAMES: Right, right. No, that's good. That's good. I feel like a lot of times when we are on our spiritual path, like, the smallest things are the things that people don't talk about, you know what I'm saying? But those are the things that are most important. And if you do what you're doing, you know what I'm saying, you'll find a comfort along the way or a time. Well, not time, but, like, more so, like, just a space where you can build a strong relationship, you know, I'm saying, like, you know, the miracles are cool. Like, I mean, it's a miracle every day we wake up. But, you know, if you. If you can really just be cognizant of, like. Yeah. The rest, the. The ability to just, like, sit up and walk away or something like that. You know what I'm saying? Like, those are the small things that God really, like, wants us to understand, so. Yeah. Yeah, that's good.

[12:13] FRANCHESCA PEU00F1A: Ottie can I ask if you see your performance art as a spiritual experience in itself and maybe in what ways you see it that way, if that's true?

[12:26] OTTIE JAMES: Yeah, no, that's. That's a great question. So, right now, as a performance artist, I do something called Pew in a pail. Like, it's a. It's a production that I've written. It's, like, 17 minutes, and it's me about another ballerina, another singer, another singer, and then one more person who does the sound and whatnot. And essentially, I'm baptizing myself in the performance and talking about how, like, important my spiritual relationship is and how is. How my entire, like, acumen when it comes to music and dance has heightened because of my relationship with God. So, yeah, I feel like now the artist I've always seen myself as is being manifested, and, yeah, it's out of my hands at this point, so. Yeah. Yeah.

[13:36] FRANCHESCA PEU00F1A: Have you. So, I know you said every day we wake up is a miracle, which is true, but have you experienced any. Any miracles?

[13:45] OTTIE JAMES: Yes. Like, so my. My miracles are, like, very strong along. I feel. Um. So this happened maybe two months ago. I was at work at Ginger and Spice, and there was a. So, okay. To give some preference or whatnot. There's a lot of homeless or displaced people down downtown mobile, and oftentimes either just walking along the same path or whatever, and they may ask you for money. They may just, you know, they're regular humans. You know, I'm saying, so may have a conversation, whatever. So this one particular guy, he. He rides a bike downtown all the time. His name is Keith. They call him keyboard Keith, because he has keyboard with him on the bike. He asked me for some money, and I was like, yeah, I had some money in the tip jar and work and whatnot. So I gave him what I had in there, and then he was standing with another young lady, and she saw that I gave him money. So then she walked back over to me and was like, hey, like, you know, would you mind? And I'm like, sure. Cool. So I give her, you know, a few dollars as well. And so then she. When I gave her the money, she was, like, super surprised that I had that kind of, like, heart posture to really, like. Like, yeah, not sure. Like, was mine as yours, right? So, yeah, she just. She just lived by just being astonished, right? So then maybe like, an hour later, she comes back in with another gentleman. And this gentleman, he actually had just gotten out of jail, and he started to tell me his testimony about, you know, what happened to him and how he had basically been doing a bunch of reading while he was in jail and whatnot. Because I think he had been in there, like, three to four years or something. And so him getting out, he was just like, yeah, I want to get my life right. I really want to get my life right. So I'm listening to his testimony and all this. I give him some money, too. And then it was. It was on my heart to read some scripture. I can't. I know it was in the book of James, but I can't remember what. Excuse me, the scripture. It was, but I was reading the scripture and then just kind of prayed with him and whatnot and sent him on his way. Now, he had never had a license. He didn't know what his birth certificate was. He didn't have access to any of these things. And at this point, like, him getting out of jail, he has no way to get a job, any of those things, right? So he leaves me that day, and the following day, I see him again. He said, yeah, you know, I went to church, and I gave my life to God. And I'm like, praise the Lord. Good. So fast forward a week later, I meet, and this is kind of how I tell stories, so bear with me. I meet another guy who's a photographer downtown. His name is. His name is Kevin. His name is Kevin Lazarus. And he taking pictures of me, and he just really likes showing me love and stuff. He has this photography studio that he brings me to. My friends, too. We take pictures, great pictures, all that. And so then he tells me one day again at Ginger and Spice, how he's a pastor, and he starts telling me a story. And his story is about this guy who came in. He had just gotten out of jail, and he needed money to get a birth certificate and get all the things that he needed to get a job. This is the same gentleman. His name. The gentleman's name is Mike. This is the same guy that I was talking to who had just gotten out of jail two weeks prior. And I'm like, yeah, Mike. He like, you know Mike. I'm like, yeah, I was talking to him two weeks ago, and, yeah, he gave him money. Kevin gave Mike money. He went and got his birth certificate. All the things he got a job. Now he out the streets and. Yeah. So miracle.

[18:40] FRANCHESCA PEU00F1A: Cause, yeah, that's amazing. Yeah. And I really love that there's so many. It's you, Kevin, Mike, and all that. You know, oftentimes when we think about miracles, it's like, oh, this thing just happened. And it's like, no, there were, like, a lot of community members that were each playing a little part in that.

[18:58] OTTIE JAMES: Yes, indeed. Yes, indeed.

[19:00] FRANCHESCA PEU00F1A: So can you tell me about any particularly, like, important people in your life from, you know, you're telling me about growing up in mobile, in your dad's home, and now as, like, an adult man and as an artist, as a spiritual man, like, what. What are the people that really influenced you along the way so. Or who are the people?

[19:25] OTTIE JAMES: Yeah. My grandmother, my mother's mother and my father, definitely. And I'll start with my grandmother. She. She was a small, strong, young woman. She. She used to, you know, I come from the type of grandmother who used to hang clothes on the. On the line outside, let them dry, you know, saying, had a garden right next to that and all that with collard greens and, you know, make everything from scratch, you know, the cornbread, all the things, right? And she. She had a 7th grade education, so what was one of the main things that was important to her was, like, her children or grandchildren getting their education, or, in her words, get your education. And I always took that very, very, very seriously. Like, like I said earlier, like, I was a smart kid, but then when she, like, started telling me these things, like, not only was I getting my a's and stuff in school, but I was, like, actually educating myself about life in general, because I saw, like, like, how her faith was very strong and everything. However, also, like, I saw how, like, simple her life was, and in the sense that I knew that there was more, and I wanted to show her more, so I wanted to learn, you know, everything that I could that was. That was good and. And truly be able to say, I educated myself, you know, I'm saying. And, yeah, so if, like, thank God for. Her name was Arizina Armstrong. She passed away last year, actually.

[21:29] FRANCHESCA PEU00F1A: May she rest in peace.

[21:30] OTTIE JAMES: Yes, indeed. Yes, indeed. And, yeah, so getting my education, like, even still to this day, I'm like, yep, if it's gonna be done, Irazina gonna be right there with me, you know what I'm saying? Doing all that, and my dad, like, of course I wish he was here, but it's okay. Like, um, I believe he showed me that it was okay to be creative. Um, I know I'm not even sure if he realizes it, but there was this one time where, like, okay, well, let me backtrack. So, like, I didn't. I didn't think he was cool at first, you know what I'm saying? I didn't think my dad was cool at all. But then, like, dragon Ball z came out, you know what I'm saying? And we started watching Dragon Ball Z together. And I'm like, that's weird. Like, why are you like this? You know what I'm saying? And. But still, I'm not really pairing my mind up until one time he just randomly walks up to me and, like, unfolds this poster and it's a picture of piccolo, and I'm. And it's hand drawn, like, and it's, like, amazing. And I'm like, who did this? And he's like, me? I'm like, you? Like, what are you talking about? Like, I'm talking about, like, this is exhibition ready type of art.

[23:07] FRANCHESCA PEU00F1A: And how old were you when you saw them?

[23:09] OTTIE JAMES: I was. I had to be, like, twelve.

[23:11] FRANCHESCA PEU00F1A: Okay.

[23:12] OTTIE JAMES: You know what I'm saying? But I can still vividly see it in my head, you know what I'm saying? And, um, so, yeah, like, when I seen that, like, it just inspired me. Like, oh, like, my father, who goes to work and goes to be an electrician every day, can still have this type of, like, creativity. Yeah, I think it's. It's okay to be creative, you know what I'm saying? So, yeah, that's. Those are the two most influential people in my life, I would say. Yeah.

[23:41] FRANCHESCA PEU00F1A: Let's see. Can you tell me about your hopes for the future?

[23:48] OTTIE JAMES: My hopes for the future? So I have children. I have two sons. Their names are Kai and Kaden. Nine and seven. Right now, my hopes are that they are safe, that they are comfortable, like, being themselves and growing in that, and that they're. They're inspired, you know I'm saying? And just by life, by God, you know, I'm saying? And they more and more people can, like, foster, like, an intelligent, like, mindset within them as well. And then, you know, going outside of that, like, I really, really, really want mobile as a whole to recognize we are, like, very rich in spirit and, and talent as a whole. And for us to, like, come together in that so we can all have fun. Cause I like having fun. Yeah. Yeah.

[25:08] FRANCHESCA PEU00F1A: Can you tell me a little bit about Kai and Kaden? What are they like?

[25:11] OTTIE JAMES: Yeah, so they are very, very, like, different and unique in their own ways.

[25:22] FRANCHESCA PEU00F1A: Oh, yeah. Give them each their moment.

[25:23] OTTIE JAMES: Yeah. So, all right, Kai is the oldest. He is. He's a recluse in a lot of ways. He likes to play games. He likes to, of course, you know, do all the things like watch YouTube and, you know, those things. Watch Spongebob a lot. But, like, when it comes to, like, picking up new skills, he's like. Like that. Well, like, mentally wise. Right. So if you. If you want him to, like, start writing something, if you give him like, the autonomy that is required to be able to, like, think for himself in that, he's gonna write something amazing. And, you know, he surprises me all the time with that. You know, I'm saying, like, I I, uh, I had him write some. Some. Some poetry the other day and. Yeah. Like some. Something that he wrote. I was like, yeah, I might need that for myself. You know what I'm saying? Like, it was good. And, um. Um. Yeah. Yeah. So. But with him being a recluse, he's still, like, coming out of, like, that shyness. You know, saying, like. Like we. We mirror each other in that way, you know, I'm saying? And, uh. But he's still, like, I say, he's very intelligent. He gets bored, though, so, yeah, I just have to stay on top of him with that.

[26:58] FRANCHESCA PEU00F1A: Yeah. And I think sometimes shyness can also be somebody nurturing an inner world, you know? So he could still be in that process.

[27:05] OTTIE JAMES: Yeah. Yeah.

[27:06] FRANCHESCA PEU00F1A: So that's Kai you said, right?

[27:07] OTTIE JAMES: Yes, kai.

[27:08] FRANCHESCA PEU00F1A: How about Kaden?

[27:09] OTTIE JAMES: Kaden is a firecracker with a heart of gold. He. He's down to, like, do all the super boyish things like go outside and run around for 3 hours straight, you know, I'm saying, um, but like I say, he has a heart to go. Like, he's made me cry a few times. Just. Just with, you know, him being him. And this might be a flag in the play, but it's okay. It's a story. So I took them to disney world over the summer and over this past summer and we stayed in the Airbnb and whatnot. It was like a big family trip and all that. And one of my family members almost set the house on fire because they. They was trying to grill some food outside and they didn't know what they were doing with the propane. And things happened, right. So then when I seen the fire, I was like, okay, I gotta get everybody out the house. You know, my children and all that. It was only a few of us at the time. And we got out the house. But then, like, in the midst of doing that, it was a little difficulty. And I got to. After everything was settled down, I had my one on one talks with each person, like, each child and whatnot. So I got to talking to Kaden, and I was like, you know, I'm glad you like, you know, was kind of quick. When I was like, hey, it's time to run. He was kind of quick with it. So I'm like, I appreciate that, you know what I'm saying? Because your safety is priority. And so then he stopped me. And so my children call me Baba. He's like, baba, you know what I want to be when I grow up? And I'm like, what? He's like a fireman. Because I want to save people's lives. And I was like, oh, wait a minute. I wasn't ready. You know what I'm saying? I was not ready for that. But that's just him being him. Like, he really has that kind of heart. So, yeah, those are my pride and joys. You know what I'm saying? So, yeah, yeah.

[29:27] FRANCHESCA PEU00F1A: So I think maybe the last question, or one of the last questions say Kai and Kaden are going to be listening to this in the future. What would you want to tell them? And I think particularly because you are such a spiritual person, when they are in times of spiritual hardship, what are words you would want to convey to them?

[29:47] OTTIE JAMES: Yeah. I would just encourage them to love God and love their neighbors. They will love themselves. And truly, if you surround your mindset with love, your outside world will look like love as well. No matter what. Just stay vigilant. I'm sorry. And know that if you just keep waking up one day and praying and thanking God for what you got, you gonna be blessed with everything you need, you know? So, yeah, that's what I would tell them.

[30:25] FRANCHESCA PEU00F1A: Thank you. Odi. Is there anything else you wanna talk about or mention quickly that we didn't get to?

[30:29] OTTIE JAMES: So, I mean, really, that's all I could talk forever. But, you know, that's the main points, right? I'll say thank you all. Thank y'all. Thank y'all. Cause this is cool. I appreciate it. So, yeah, thanks.

[30:46] FRANCHESCA PEU00F1A: Thank you. We're just gonna do 10 seconds of silence and then I'll stop the recording.