We’re looking forward to introducing you to Harold JAY Trotter. Check out our conversation below.
Hi Harold JAY, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: When was the last time you felt true joy?
The last time I felt true joy was when I held my first book, Joy Ride: Smiling Through Tough Shit, in my hands. Seeing my name on the cover and flipping through the pages was surreal — not just because I had written a book, but because of what it represented. I wrote it during one of the most challenging seasons of my life, and in many ways, the process became my therapy. Every chapter was born out of pushing through pain, uncertainty, and self-doubt.
When I finally held that finished copy, it brought me a deep sense of peace and confirmation — proof that beauty and purpose can come from even the hardest seasons.
That moment also reminded me of something I now try to live by: joy isn’t something you stumble upon; it’s something you choose. I’ve learned to be intentional about finding joy every single day, no matter the circumstances. Whether it’s through creativity, laughter with friends, or just taking a breath to appreciate where I am, I make it a point to find it. Joy is a practice, and that book was both a result of it and a reminder to keep choosing it.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Harold JAY Trotter — I’m a playwright, director, actor, and the founder of 1989 Dreams Productions, a Houston-based theatre company that has been my passion, my purpose, and sometimes my greatest leap of faith. We tell stories that live in the soul long after the curtain falls — bold, culturally rich, and unapologetically human.
What makes 1989 Dreams different is that our work doesn’t just aim to entertain. We create spaces where people see themselves, where conversations start, and where the next generation of artists feels the door swing open a little wider. From original works like Black Boys Cry and A Chocolate Christmas Carol to The Uprise Experience: Houston Black Theatre Week, everything we produce is about connection — between art and audience, artist and community, past and future.
Most recently, I added “author” to my title with my debut book, Joy Ride: Smiling Through Tough Shit. That project, like my theatre work, was about turning life’s challenges into something that inspires and moves people.
And at the core of it all is our motto, which is more than words — it’s the compass for every decision we make: “Creating entertainment, innovating minds, and moving generations through the work we present.”
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
The world has never told me who I had to be — and truthfully, it never had the chance. From a young age, I knew exactly who I was. I’ve been carving my own path for as long as I can remember, not shaped by trends or expectations, but by faith and the deep belief that God placed something in me for a reason.
Jeremiah 1:5 says, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart.” That’s not just scripture to me — it’s the blueprint. I believe the road I’m walking was designed by God, and I could see that calling on my life even as a boy.
Have I made decisions with other people’s opinions in mind? Of course. But even then, they were my decisions — not the world’s.
Too many people spend their lives unsure of who they are, trying to live up to someone else’s version of them. I’m grateful because God told me who I was early, and I’ve had the privilege to live in that purpose — imperfect, still learning, but fully grounded in who He made me to be. There’s strength and peace in knowing you’re walking in exactly what you were created to do.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Yesterday. Last week. Last month. Last year. The year before that.
The thought of giving up crosses my mind more often than I’d like to admit. When things get hard, exhausting, broken — when life feels like it’s piling on — walking away or pivoting always seems like the easiest option.
It was while writing my book Joy Ride: Smiling Through Tough Shit that I learned the real difference between giving up and pausing. Too many times, we mistake a pause for quitting. But sometimes you have to stop, recenter, listen, breathe, put some air in the tire, and then get back on the road.
Do I think about giving up? Absolutely. Am I able to? No. Because getting to your destination isn’t just about you — it’s about the people waiting for you there, the people you meet along the way, and the ones watching from a distance.
I’ve experienced plenty of dark days, most of them tied to financial struggles, and giving up has always seemed like the quick fix. But the truth is, it doesn’t solve the problem. It doesn’t stop the pain. It doesn’t change the situation.
What has carried me is faith — faith in myself, faith in my dream, and faith in God. That’s what’s kept me moving forward when quitting would have been easier. And that’s what will keep me going tomorrow, next week, next year, and for as long as I’m called to walk this path.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Whom do you admire for their character, not their power?
I admire people whose character holds up when no one’s watching — people who lead with integrity, humility, and consistency, even when there’s nothing to gain. For me, that person was my grandfather, Lloyd Patterson. He wasn’t rich, he didn’t have political influence, and he didn’t walk into rooms demanding attention. But he treated people with respect, worked hard without complaining, and kept his word no matter the cost.
In 2016, when he passed away, I felt a pull to do something he would be proud of — something that could carry his legacy forward. That’s when I started 1989 Dreams Productions. It wasn’t just about building a theatre company; it was about building a platform rooted in the same values he lived by: respect, excellence, and authenticity.
His life taught me that real legacy isn’t built on titles or power — it’s built on how you show up for people, how you carry yourself in hard seasons, and how steady you remain when life tries to shake you. That’s the kind of man I strive to be, and every project I create is, in a way, another chapter in the story he started.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I’m doing what I was born to do. Nobody had to tell me — I’ve known it in my spirit since I was a kid. I believe we’re all born with something inside us that points toward our calling, and for me, that’s always been creating, storytelling, educating, and inspiring.
Ever since I was young, God gave me a vision of standing on a world stage — not just to entertain, but to inspire, uplift, and leave people better than I found them. That’s the heartbeat behind everything I do, whether it’s theatre, writing, music, or community work.
That’s also why a song I wrote years ago, Born to Win, means so much to me. It’s more than music — it’s a declaration. The same goes for my song I Believe. Both speak to the truth that I wasn’t put here to just get by; I was put here to walk boldly in the purpose God gave me. And yes — shameless plug — both songs are available everywhere you stream music. Just search “Harold JAY Trotter & Inspire.”
I’m not chasing someone else’s plan for my life. I’m walking in the one I was designed for — flawed, learning, growing, but still moving forward. Because when you’re doing what you were born to do, even the hard days are worth it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.1989dreams.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/iamharoldjay
- Twitter: https://www.x.com/_1989dreams
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/1989dreams
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/_1989dreams
