Jacqueline Session Ausby

Welcome to Dahtruth.com my space to contemplate, ventilate, express myself and own my Truth.  My name is Jacqueline Session Ausby, I go by Jacque or Jac.  I was born on August 9, 1968, on a smoky-hot summer day—according to my mother.  Meaning I was born hot. I was a challenge. I am the second child of Edwin Session and Willean Jefferson (Session).  My parents were married young, in shotgun style, and they were placed in an environment they were not ready to receive. They separated after only a few years and they never reunited.  Indeed, my father was a rolling stone.  He disappeared. 

Their union brought forth three seeds (me, Angie Session (McIntyre), and Crystal Session).  We grew up without our biological father in a quasi-single-family home.  Eddie Jenkins (aka Hop), my mother’s life-long companion, stood proxy as our father.  Together they had my youngest brother, Eric Jenkins.  In total there were six of us who shared a two-bedroom apartment on Jersey Avenue in New Brunswick, NJ.

I am part of the generation who witnessed oppression as it took on the form of a serpent.  Drugs, drugs and more drugs.   Many of my relatives had survived more than their fair share of struggle and confusion as a consequence of drugs.  The eve of 1980 brought forth a generation oppressed mentally, addicted physically and spiritually loss.  Many of the lives of my uncles and aunties had been cut short as a result of liquor stores and drug dealers.  Not exactly a phenomenal story—many African American families share a similar narrative.  The mindset to overcome shifted to dependency.  Individuals no longer prayed to get to the other side of the mountain; they woke up every day thinking about how to get high. 

My neighborhood was down-trodden, desperate and confused.  Hope and salvation came disguised in silvered-colored forty-ounce bottles of malt liquor or clear baggies of residue.  Devastation rippled black neighborhoods like mine, had left behind a thick cloud of darkness.  But thank God!  After the darkness there emerged the sweet dawn.  A revolution manifested in the form of music, fashion and attitude.  A light shone on the least in our communities and created a Revolution that brought forth the Hip Hop Generation.  The Generation to which I belong. 

Like many black females that lived in my community, I had no real identity and no purpose.  But as I struggled and survived, I learned.  My mother and grandmother said no to death by overcoming horrific obstacles.  They had tried and failed but they lived to try and fail again.   They lived, loved, loss—but survived.   With God’s enlightenment, I came to see my families’ failures and triumphs gave me power.  Their failures gave me strength and their successes motivated me to achieve.

I graduated high school in 1986 and started college in the late 90’s.  I attended the Center of Urban and Theological Studies (CUTS), in Philadelphia.  I studied Theology, John 1:14 set me on fire, “Jesus IS the Word, and the Word became Flesh.”  Jesus became flesh to save me.  God has taken this little black girl, from the streets of New Brunswick and placed her on a journey to become a writer and glorify Him. I transferred to Eastern University in 2001 and received a BA in English Writing; finally in 2017 I received a MA in Creative Writing from Rowan University, Glassboro New Jersey.    

Dahtruth.com is my personal website. It is filled with tales of truth that I have observed on my journey.  These stories offer insight into where I came from, what I’ve seen and experienced.   Although the pieces that I’ve written are fiction, the messages represent Truth. In this space I feature infallible characters on a journey for righteousness.  I showcase King, the first series of short-stories I’ve written.  These stories focus on the lives of the King siblings, three sisters and a brother, who live in the fictitious town of Bethill.  The stories delve into their struggles and reveal the undeniable truth:  struggle has a profound way of pulling people together. 

I also showcase the prologue to a novel I’ve been working on for several years entitled, Curious Case of Dorothy McBride and preview my most endearing piece of work, The Dansee Sisters, a novel that is a loose rendition of Chekhov's play, Three Sisters.  I also give my perspective on things that happen to cross my mind—just because a blog wouldn't be a blog without a point of view.  Lastly, I seek to illuminate the Word of God via my Podcast series entitled, Light Conversations, discussion about what is happening in the world of African Americanism.

I lived in Philadelphia for 30 years, but my home is New Jersey.   On days when I’m not dreaming of stories or working, I read.  My favorite book is the Bible.  If you catch me early in the morning, you’ll find me reading and meditating on the Word of God.  I believe my purpose in life is to write and every move I make is motivated by my desire to achieve this goal.  My favorite writers are, Edward P. Jones, Charles Dickens, Nathaniel Hawthorne and lately, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.   I draw inspiration from Gospel and Hip-Hop music.  I love politics and believe when Jesus returns, he will govern as the King of Peace.   I pray daily, mediate often and believe knowledge of self comes from the divine understanding that Jesus Christ is…I Am!

I hope you enjoy my blog. I invite you to click on and read one of my short stories today and if you can’t finish—there’s always tomorrow!

Peace, Love and Blessings.

Jacque