Meet Anthony James Williams of Anthoknees

Today we’d like to introduce you to Anthony James Williams.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the you, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
My “business” is me, which is an odd thing to write as someone who is anti-capitalist. But the reality is that I was trained to think of myself as a brand as early as 18. I was in an acting conservatory and as a professional actor, you are a brand. Around the time I stopped doing theatre, television, and film around 2016, I also started tweeting and writing a lot more under the nickname “Anthoknees.” I got here by just being honest and real, to be frank.

Anthoknees was not a branding decision that began in the same way branding worked in theatre. Instead, I popularized hashtags like #MasculinitySoFragile and #BlackWomenDidThat, changing how various audiences thought about toxic masculinity and Black women’s contributions to the world. Since then, my platform has grown to over 30,000 followers who visit my feed for everything from wholesome memes to sociopolitical analysis on current events. More recently, however, many of my followers come to my page to feel less alone when it comes to existing as a person with multiple axes of structural oppression.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
One of the largest challenges has been the remote nature of my work. I write and I tweet while also juggling my life as a PhD student in sociology. This means that I can always be “working,” which is a problem. And I put working in quotation marks because much of what I do is just me sharing my thoughts through tweets and/or essays. Where the work comes in is the constant expectation of releasing new material or the assumption that I will weigh in on all current topics.

I became particularly aware of this during my first year of grad school. I had just moved across the state, started a doctoral program, and was getting used to the demands while still trying to maintain my previous productivity. I had to take a break from both Twitter and writing for public audiences in order to recalibrate, focus on myself, and really try new solutions for dealing with my mental illnesses.

Anthoknees – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I write essays, I write threads on Twitter, I make people laugh, I affirm people’s existence on the internet, and I am human. Quite simply, the reason people support me as a scholar and writer are directly related to me just being my open, honest, flawed, and mentally ill self.

I’m most known for my current display name, “y’all don’t read.” The phrase refers to how little most people read, but not in the way we usually conceptualize it. I’m not talking about just reading books, but reading anything written, spoken, or observed for context. We, as humans, often take things out of context. We walk into a room and do not pay attention to what was already occurring before we entered. And sometimes we do it on purpose. So when I say “y’all don’t read,” or my followers echo it, it comes from a place of yearning for more comprehension in reading, listening, and existing.

Second, I’m also known for my candor when it comes to mental illness. While I talk openly about being Black and queer, I find that where people relate the most are the topics that are often least discussed in truly helpful ways. So sometimes I cannot make a deadline, so I tweet about it because that’s all I can do as I feel trapped in my bed. Other times I write about how difficult it is to do simple tasks, and many people relate to that. One of the worst things about mental illness and other disabilities is that it often makes us think we are alone and worthless. I try to show people that those notions are far from the truth.

What’s less known, however, is my history as a performer-educator and facilitator. I work with companies, community organizations, student groups, and individuals to create and facilitate trainings around race, gender, sexuality, mental health, and teaching.

What is “success” or “successful” for you?
If I my behavior or words can make at least one person a day feel less alone or more understanding of how interlocking systems of oppression affect many of us, I’ve been successful.

Contact Info:

• Website: antjwilliams.com
• Email: anthokneesplease@gmail.com
• Twitter: twitter.com/anthoknees

Image Credit:
Rakeem Cunningham (read profile photo), Jee Jing (snuggie photo, personal photo), Kenneth Eke (photo where I have on the black hoodie)

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