Nikita Carter - Both Sides of the Great Divide

2024, English, Nikita Carter,

Full title: "Both Sides of the Great Divide" by Nikita Carter.

Both Sides of the Great Divide by Nikita Carter offers readers an intimate, powerful account of her life’s most profound transformation, a late-in-life awakening to her true self as a trans woman. At the age of 60, after a series of shattering experiences, Carter describes how she was “broken open,” awakening to a new awareness that reshaped her existence and compelled her to live authentically, embracing a truth she had long buried.

 

More than just a memoir, this book is a testament to resilience, courage, and the relentless pursuit of identity and freedom. Nikita Carter’s life is steeped in music. A celebrated musician, composer, educator, and producer, her artistry is deeply woven into the fabric of her identity. For decades, she has been a vibrant force in the world of music, touring extensively across Canada, the United States, and Europe. Her blues-drenched, soulful sound is at once haunting and joyous, expressive and unmistakably her own. From early gigs at the age of 16 to performances at renowned jazz festivals and collaborations with some of the most respected figures in jazz and contemporary music, Carter’s career is marked by a commitment to pushing boundaries and exploring new sonic landscapes. She has worked with luminaries such as Wadada Leo Smith, Nicole Mitchell, George E. Lewis, Amina Claudine Myers, Roscoe Mitchell, Fred Anderson, Oliver Lake, and Marilyn Crispell, collaborations that have enriched her musical vocabulary and deepened her creative expression.

 

As a composer, Nikita has written a remarkable array of works, spanning solo piano pieces, saxophone quartets, and large ensemble compositions. Her portfolio includes world premieres such as Broken Dreams (Berlin Jazz Festival, 2002), Thorsburger (Lisbon’s Jazz em Agosto, 2004), and Invocation for S’Unduda (2012, with the Vancouver Intercultural Orchestra). Additionally, her leadership roles in ensembles such as The NOW Orchestra and Orkestra Futura highlight her ongoing influence in contemporary music circles. What makes Both Sides of the Great Divide truly extraordinary is not only Carter’s impressive musical career but the transformative personal journey that she courageously shares. At 60, an age when many have settled comfortably into identity and routine, Carter faced a rupture, a series of experiences that forced her to confront a deeply buried truth: she is a trans woman. Her memoir takes readers through this difficult and illuminating process, candidly exploring the pain, fear, confusion, and ultimately the liberation that came with embracing her authentic self. 

 

The “great divide” that the title refers to is both the internal split she experienced between the life she had lived and the truth she was awakening to, as well as the broader societal chasm many transgender people encounter, between who they are and the world’s understanding of them. Through heartbreak and resilience, Carter was “broken open,” allowing herself to step fully into her identity. This breaking open was not just a moment but a continuous unfolding, one that reshaped her relationships, career, and sense of purpose. Nikita Carter describes herself as a “hybrid being, being hybrid.” This powerful phrase encapsulates the richness and complexity of her identity, a blending of artistic, cultural, and gender expressions that defy simplistic categorization. Her emergence as a confident and loving advocate for the trans community reflects this hybridity. She carries forward the wisdom from her decades in music and leadership into her activism, using her voice, literally and figuratively, to uplift others and challenge societal norms. Her story embodies intersectionality, highlighting how identity, art, and community intersect to create spaces for transformation and healing. 

 

Both Sides of the Great Divide is more than a personal narrative; it’s a beacon for anyone grappling with identity or seeking to understand the transgender experience. Carter’s openness about her vulnerabilities invites empathy and encourages readers to reconsider their assumptions about gender, aging, and authenticity. Her journey challenges the misconception that self-discovery has an expiration date. Instead, she proves that awareness and growth can occur at any stage of life, and that it takes extraordinary bravery to live one’s truth against the odds. As a musician and composer, Carter has always spoken through her art. As an author, she now speaks directly, sharing her truth with clarity and grace. As an actor, she brings her lived experience to her roles, adding depth and authenticity to her performances. Her blues-infused voice resonates not only in music but in words and activism, creating a multifaceted legacy that bridges art and identity. 

 

Both Sides of the Great Divide is a stirring, eloquent testament to the power of transformation. Nikita Carter’s story is one of breaking open, of stepping through fear and confusion into a life of honesty, courage, and creative expression. It is a celebration of hybridity and a call to embrace complexity in ourselves and others. In sharing her journey, Carter not only honors her past but also lights a path forward for transgender people and allies alike. Her voice, soulful, authentic, and unyielding, reminds us that it is never too late to find and live your truth.

Available via Amazon

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