Through the interviews, ideas and projects featured here we: Connect women artists across the African Diaspora with creative minds around the world + Create exciting arts events and media + Liberate imaginations and nourish free spirits
I now have two new favorite stories about Whitney Houston. My roommate’s friend, a professional dancer, was at an event with Whitney when she said (in sultry Whitney tone I imagine): “Baby, go get me a ginger ale.” He said: “You want Seagram’s or Shweppe’s?” She said: “Surprise me sugar.” Recently, Steve Harvey shard that a few years ago, Whitney had someone bring him to her dressing room to personally thank him for not joking about her when it was funny to talk about her addictions.
I’m tired of hearing folks in the media discuss Whitney’s issues in a pitying tone, acting as if they find the righteousness in themselves to discuss her death in, at least, a gentle manner. Just to name a few of her successes, Whitney has sold multiple diamond albums, her rendition of “The Star Spangled Banner” is the only to have gone platinum and the “World Music Awards” recognized her as one of the “Best-selling Female Artists of the Era”. So, I am not fooled by media features that minimize Whitney’s global success and reach to make it seem as if her death is the “teachable moment.”
My good friend Abadeu says first impressions are never as important as lasting impressions. Regardless of whatever new findings come out and everything we already know about her life, in her passing, we can at least recognize that her struggles did not define her. Talking up her issues and not the fullness of her life says more about us as a culture than Whitney.
This is not one of her more popular songs, but it’s meant a lot to me. I’m happy she’s left us with so much to choose from.
You can bet there will always be a million pigeonholes people can’t wait to stuff you inside. As a black woman in the punk music scene, Noah Sow of Noiseaux, flips the bird to each and every one. When asked how it feels to be black, German and doing punk music, Noah replied: “I’m educated enough to know that “Black music” is [many things]…you bet whenever I open my mouth to sing, what comes out is Black music by definition.” Noiseaux has even created their own music genre, Afropunk Chanson, which they’ll have people headbanging to on their upcoming tour with 24-7 Spyz, one of the most influential black bands in the punk scene.
A mutli-talented artist and activist, Noah’s humor and wit also comes across in her book, Germany, Black and White. Take, for example, her “List of Stupid Phrases” said to Black Germans and practical responses. She suggests when someone asks: “Do you feel more African or German?” one can respond: “Do you feel more ‘ass’ or ‘dumb-ass’?”
For Noah, race is not just some categorization she wishes would disappear so we could all live in peace. Blackness represents the heritage she, and many Black Germans don’t want to continue to see attacked or minimized. Noah sings with passion and intensity on all her songs, and this especially comes across in songs like, “Be Calm,” which criticizes European beauty standards and black stereotypes blacks in popular media. She co-founded New York’s, Anarchists of Color with the motto, “Disgrace Your Stereotype.”
Here Noah talks about punk as a musical genre and lifestyle, being a black woman on the scene and Noiseaux’s latest album Out Now!.
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When did you first fall in love with punk rock?
My key punk rock experience was as a teenager when the Black female fronted German punk band “Jingo de Lunch” came to my school to play a show. The headmaster had no idea what he had let through the nod. Punk audiences came from near and far and destroyed the whole sports ground by by moshing. It was the most wonderful day of my life (until then…more have followed since ).
I was already a punk kid then, with green hair and all, but had not known the band before, although they were quite influential. Jingo De Lunch were and still are the only influential Black female fronted punk rock band out of Germany.
I was one of three Black kids in the whole town. The town was racist as f*@k. Jingo de Lunch’s singer, Yvonne, was my first female role model. So powerful. I was in awe. Almost made me cry. I’ll never forget that day.
Is punk a way of life?
Punk has different aspects. One is a musical genre. The second and more important one for me is that it is an attitude. I’d call it being deviant, living on one’s own account. Not accepting society’s stereotypes and pigeonholes–that can definitely result in a way of life. When the two are combined, like in new Black Rock movements to reclaim the terms “punk” and “rock”, there’s no more “punk police” going: “Hey, the Sex Pistols are Punk but not Grace Jones or Little Richard,” but a more unifying and causal definition of “punk.”
I could always relate to some of the punk rock elements: openly expressed emotion, explicit resistance against societal norms, I experienced this as very freeing. Some other elements of “punk rock” I never quite understood…like, how did they manage to turn it into this 90% white scene? Like Tamar Kali said, punks wear mohawks and ear tunnels. It’s never been a white thing. I’m not even starting about the musical influences.
What do you think is the biggest misunderstanding of punk rock?
That the first thing that pops up in one’s mind when hearing the word is a white male.
You’ve gotten a lot of great feedback on your new album, Out Now! What was your vision for this album?
My vision was to combine the attitude I had at that time with melodic songs. I have a soft spot for beautiful melodies and like to incorporate them into a louder and heavier sound. I wrote my book on everyday racism at the same time when we recorded the album, so I could have a positive outlet for all the sad and heavy stuff that was in my head. In many ways it was an emancipation record for me.
I’ve always wanted to see what it would feel like to record all the songs both in English and German, how they would change, how their feel would change. And I really wanted to reach out to my Black rock music loving folks in my own country as well as anywhere else, so a 2-language-album made sense.
I also managed to become autonomous after long and unlovely experiences with the German record industry’s stereotyping issues. Being able to release the album on my own label “Jeanne Dark Records” felt especially awesome.
Do you think you’ve been able to connect with artists and fans abroad because the stereotypes and issues you communicate through your music are so similar around the world?
I absolutely feel this is a universal Black rock woman experience. For me it’s great to make international connections because wherever we are we are such a minority that we simply don’t find many people to connect with if we don’t reach out pretty far.
I’ve met women in every part of the world with similar experiences: not “fitting in” (or not wanting to fit in), not being content with serving submissive “non-threatening”, exaggeratedly feminine images, every one of them having to fight against so much bulls*@t and adversity only to be able to show her art. Of course, this results in powerful connections. I’m happy and honored that I can call Maya from Mother Goddess and Honeychild Coleman my dear friends, among others.
It seems like there aren’t too many female led punk-rock bands like yours (or are they just less recognized?).
Hmmm, I don’t consider NOISEAUX a “punk-rock band”. There might be some correlations in my or our music and biography, but “punk rock” for me is not a synonym for “part of the Afropunk culture”. I guess I know what you mean though–how is this still such a male dominated genre? It’s because when women are loud, in charge, in control, self-confident, we are frequently reprimanded, ignored or attacked. We’re a threat to male privilege and probably also the whole identity construction of some guys. And women of color are not exactly being encouraged to start a rock band hahaha.
I have the impression that this is slowly changing–I hope I’m right. Media images are definitely pushing in the wrong way regarding young women’s self images.
Would you say your femininity influences your music?
I don’t have any clue what “femininity” is supposed to be, other than a collective experience from a certain socialization. I can only say that yes, of course, my music is influenced by how I grew up, what my role models were supposed to be, how my daily life is shaped by the challenges and benefits of being a woman of color. It’s in my lyrics.
Most musicians I know have very eclectic music tastes. What musicians of genres other than punk or rock have influenced you?
Bunches. I don’t care so much for genres, it’s more the songwriting and vocalists’ expressions that I connect to. I have the most random genre mix in my “all-time-favorites” folder: 24-7 Spyz, Suicidal Tendencies, Jessye Norman, Bloc Party, Kele Okereke’s solo record, Grace Jones, Miles Davis, The Spin Doctors, Roxy Music, The Police, Brandi, Whitney Houston, Boyz II Men, and I didn’t even get to the guilty pleasures!
Congratulations on your upcoming tour with 24-7 Spyz! One of the best parts of a concert to me is the song or collaboration I don’t anticipate. Can you give Live Unchained a little taste of anything you have in store for the audience that they may not expect?
Thank you!
This tour means a lot to me, I still have a hard time grasping the fact that we’re actually touring together! We’ll be presenting our new style and genre “Afropunk Chanson” on this exciting occasion, I think nobody’s going to expect this from us hahaha. We’ll play songs from the album Out Now! but, a little differently… and mostly new tunes. If we have the time, we’ll upload something shortly before the tour so folks can catch a glimpse .
Finally, what does living unchained mean to you?
Creating and talking about my art without being reduced to some fantasy image of what a Black Woman’s art is supposed to be. Being without having to explain. Being seen as a person.
Being able to make a living from my own ideas and being independent in my choice of projects and work: the books I write, the music I play, the theatre shows I produce…I love the fact that they are uncompromisingly what I want to show, sometimes radical.
I’m very thankful for all these chances. Don’t get me wrong, it’s been quite a struggle to get there. I don’t take anything for granted.
If you fight it, it will outlast you. If you chase it, it will outrun you. If you try to control it, it will outsmart you. Love wins–naturally. Like many life lessons, these are often things we learn the hard way. Fortunately, there are artists like Martyna Baker, right there with us, knowing how to put everything we feel into the right words and melody. Singing from her own experiences of being taken for granted and confused, Martyna creates the music that makes you feel validated and understood when your relationship unfolds in a way that you didn’t expect, agree with or deserve.
Although many of her lyrics deal with pain, Martyna’s personality is quite carefree and fun; she had me laughing throughout this interview! While performing and living in the United Kingdom, her music is reaching people across the world. Martyna’s a great artist because she’s a great person—self-aware, thoughtful and making music purely for the love of it (and also because it’s healing to diss someone in a tune sometimes). Here, she shares the story behind one of her most popular songs, “Love Fast,” the emotion in her music and a fantasy encounter .
You said you propped up the courage to start singing at 21. So, what was the push?
I always loved music, I was an only child until I was 10, and me and my mum lived with my uncle who had a massive CD collection so I’d sit listening to Whitney Houston and Dolly Parton for hours! I didn’t have much self-esteem when I was younger, which held me back–and sometimes still can–but I started doing music about four years ago because my ex-boyfriend pissed me off. He said he knew I had wasted money buying a guitar since I didn’t touch it for the first 5 months, so I was like: “I’ll show you jerk!”
I’ve really enjoyed the EP after first falling in love with “Love Fast.” What inspired you to write “Love Fast”? Are you still love fasting?
I’m glad you like “Love Fast,” it seems to be most people’s favorite! I wrote “Love Fast” just after speaking to a boy I really liked at the time who just kept “blowing hot and cold” so to speak. I was trying my hardest to change and make myself fit him, but I just didn’t, so I gave up and wrote “Love Fast.” Thankfully though, I am no longer love fasting!
Your music clearly comes from the heart and you’ve shared a lot of your personal experiences. What’s one of, if not the most, revealing songs you’ve written? Do you ever feel nervous about being so open?
I think “Love Fast” and “Don’t Take My Eyes” are my most honest songs, but I try to be frank in all of my songs. I don’t feel nervous about being honest in my music because all I have is my story, my truth, so if I don’t share that then what am I sharing?
Where do you want your music career to take you?
Wherever my fans are! I hope that means I get to travel the world. I don’t have any big goals other than to sing for the rest of my life and never stop writing.
If you could have one special night with any musician, who would it be?
The “Shit _______ Says” videos are all the rage on the web. While we haven’t seen them all, we were happy to see someone hilariously representing for natural hair girls! Here we chat with Jenn, the brains and beauty of “Shit Natural Hair Girls Say,” on the making of the video, her creative background and natural hair transition.
Can you tell us a little about yourself?
I am 23 years old. I’ve been single for about a year now and enjoy long walks on the beach… just kidding! However, I am 23. I reside in a suburb not too far from Chicago. I work full-time in the marketing field.
We loved you in this video! Do you have any acting experience?
I have absolutely no experience acting, but I do love it. I used to do little skits anytime I possibly could back in grade school. Everyone would be so surprised because I am a very reserved and quiet person.
What made you want to create “Shit Natural Hair Girls Say?”
Honestly, it was a decision made on the whim. My brother and I were both working on a Saturday afternoon. We randomly started talking about the “Shit Girls Say” video. I believe it was him who mentioned natural hair. One thing led to another, and we decided to make the video. I really felt like it was our turn. Everyone else had a “Shit ______ Says” video. I thought why not?!
What made you want to do a video about natural hair?
What made me do a video about natural hair is the simple fact that I love the natural hair community. We have such a strong support system! I know that sometimes we go through a lot dealing with our hair. It’s nice to have a little comic relief.
What was your process going natural like?
I officially started going natural on June 1st 2010. Oh man…did I go through struggles transitioning. My hair was pretty long, but I cut it in a short bob to help maintain the 2 different textures in September of 2010. It did not help for long. I decided to Big Chop in March 2011. It has been history ever since.
You shared a lot of funny things natural hair girls say. Anything you would add now?
There are so many things I would like to add. I wrote so much more, but the video is only a minute or so long. Only a certain amount of content would fit. Since there are so many things I would like to add, the top 3 things I would add are people trying to touch my hair, pre-pooing, and shrinkage.
Do you have any more projects coming up?
I had no idea this video was going to get so many hits. It is still mind blowing! I plan on making more videos in the near future. As far as content goes, you will have to stay tuned to find out.
Finally, what does living unchained mean to you?
In my opinion, living unchained means to not be a slave to mainstream society. There are so many women out there who feel like they need to conform in order to be accepted, but that is just not true. I live everyday unchained, and my hair is just one way of me expressing it.
A wise woman knows not to reveal too much, she is comfortable in her mystery. Bergitta Victor has a joyful youthful spirit and presence, but don’t let that fool you, there is definitely more than meets the eye. When I first heard Singer Bergitta Victor’s debut single, “Say Love,” from her latest album, So Happy, I thought I had her music figured out—bohemian folk with an inspiring message. I was too presumptuous; the more I listened, the more layers I saw. I expected the song “So Happy” to be about taking joy in life’s little blessings, but it actually feels like a sultry “thank you” to her lover. Having seen her performance of “Trouble” with Nneka, I can see why she describes her live shows as an “emotional striptease”—in the video (which is embedded in this post), you can feel how connected they are to the song’s message, jumping on stage and singing with a different intensity than the album version.
Here Bergitta reveals a little more (but not too much) sharing her pride in writing and producing her latest album, how she came to love performance and how her homeland, the Seychelles, inspires her.
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I like the nice mix of rhythms throughout your album. I hear a lot of different sounds from reggae to tango. How would you describe your music style?
Acoustic soul with an African touch and a hidden devotion to jazz. I grew up listening to music from Africa, Europe and the States. So, I never really did put my music in any genre. I like being versatile.
What did you want to express about yourself with this album? What does So Happy say about you as an artist?
It definitely says that I am a person who is trying to think positive…today, tomorrow and always.
Making this album made me realize how much I enjoy singing, writing songs, producing and all that. I chose the title not only because of the song “So Happy,” but because I was happy and proud with the result of my album that I wrote all by myself. I also produced it with David Stauffacher, a fantastic Percussionist from Zurich. It was a big step for me.
I’ve learned one thing in the past 15 years, if you want to achieve something, you gotta work hard for it. Nobody is going to do it for you.
And, may I share my favorite quote with you by Mahatma Gandhi: “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.”
I really liked your performance with Nneka. It was nice to hear her say how much your music meant to her. How did that collaboration come about? Why do you think you vibe so well creatively?
Well, I met Nneka in April 2006 and we had kept in touch. So, I asked her earlier this year if I could be her opening act, since I am still struggling. And that’s how it all started. I performed on her European tour in Bern, Basel, Zurich and Duesseldorf.
She told me that she liked my song “Trouble” because she related to it, and insisted on a collaboration. Really, it was a spontaneous thing. And, hey, we are talking about one of the most talented artist of our generation – I’d be stupid to say no! Hahaha.
Maybe we vibe well because we are similar in many ways. You know, when it comes to our musical backgrounds and that we are both fighters and believe in the good.
Bergitta Victor and Nneka live in Dusseldorf, Germany — They KILLED IT!
In your live performances with Nneka and with your band, I notice how free you look on stage. Were you always that comfortable?
I enjoy being on stage. It wasn’t always like that though. I had to learn that being on stage also means being at home. So, my stage is my home, where I feel good and make others feel welcomed – just like a host should, I guess.
I’m not much of a talkative person. So I “talk” through my music. Sometimes I am overwhelmed by certain things on stage and accidentally reveal more about myself than I actually planed to. But, you best get to know me by listening to my music. Not everything I write is personal – but a lot is.
You are from the beautiful Seychelles. How does your country and Africa inspire you?
I love the Seychelles.
I must admit, I have always been an admirer of Africa. Not only because I am an African myself. It’s because of the people of Africa! Africans are very proud, with very strong personalities and we believe that there will be a better tomorrow. And, we definitely never forget where we came from.
What’s one thing every artist should forget?
Hmmm… That making music is not about fame, money and bling bling. It’s about sharing and giving joy, hope, confidence, life and love. It’s about bringing positivity!
Finally, what does living unchained mean to you?
It means freedom to me. I am blessed and thankful for really getting to be free.
But, I am hoping that we all can be free one day, no matter where we’re from.
Michel Martin is an accomplished journalist who hosts my favorite show on NPR, Tell Me More. Earlier this month, I dreamt she and I discussed haters. I used to listen to her show, a lot online (especially the Barbershop and Can I Just Tell You pieces), that aside, I can’t explain how or why I came to have this dream. Now that I think over our conversation, I can really hear her elegant voice asking me these questions in all her charm and refinement. Here’s an excerpt from the transcript of our imaginary talk:
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Michel Martin (MM): It’s great to see how Live Unchained is growing. I imagine that with a project as international and dynamic as this you’ve had to deal with a lot of people questioning how it would all come together, doubters.
Me (K): Yeah, I guess everyone who starts an organization has to deal with that– doubters, haters, haterade.
MM: [Lightly laughing] Well, I think of a hater as someone who is also jealous, so I guess I’m not speaking of doubt in that sense, let’s just call them…naysayers.
K: Well, first of all, I know that there is always going to be art that doesn’t resonate with me. And, in that same sense, I don’t expect Live Unchained to resonate with everyone. There are always going to be people that get it, and people that don’t.
And, it helps me to think about artists who I didn’t always get or just felt lukewarm about. For example, I wasn’t too impressed with a lot of what I considered—“poppy R&B” singers. I felt like a lot of their lyrics were cliché and the beats were all starting to sound alike. Later on in their careers, I saw that some of the artists I had lumped in this category were really taking themselves seriously as artists, and not just stars, with innovative music videos. I found myself looking forward to what else they had to put out, paying more attention to what they were saying in interviews, and even defending them against folks I thought were hatin’.
And, you know, that’s what I’d want for Live Unchained. I don’t want people to like us just because someone they know likes us, or someone important gave us a good review. I want Live Unchained to earn a place in people’s hearts, like many artists have for me.
MM: And, what about the people that have been with you from the beginning? I mean, how does what you’ve just said relate to the folks who don’t need you to fight for their hearts because they’ve been wanting a project like this?
K: Well, I think the haters…excuse me, naysayers, are like fuel to them…and me. I think the fact that there are people out there doubting our cause makes the Live Unchained community stronger in their commitment, their support despite the opinions of folks like that just shows that their loyalty isn’t superficial. And, I think it’s the same on a personal level—you know your self-love is strong when other folks’ negative opinions deepen it instead of taking away from it.
MM: It sounds like this has a lot to do with what it means to live unchained as a lifestyle.
K: Yeah, exactly. You can’t wait for other people to get what you’re doing before you start doing it. And, that’s why I carry this post-card Sean Mack designed for us everywhere I go.
[Then I pull out the card above, Michel reads what it says, we cut to commercial, I compliment her on her hair and we talk some more...]
Artists have restless minds. For many of us, it’s not enough for us to know what goes on behind the scenes of a film, but also what it arouses in the audience. The fear of not having our vision received the way we’d like stops many of us from continuing, or worse, even beginning our creative projects. Yet, when you know that your creative vision serves a larger purpose—perhaps, to heal, to unite, to educate—it’s easier to move past that doubt. I think Idil Ibrahim’s commitment to telling stories with these intentions has been key to her success as a filmmaker.
A member of New York’s tight-knit independent film community, Idil followed her passion to start her own production company, Zeila Films. The daughter of Somali Parents, raised in the United States, and having known many communities across the country and abroad, it became important for her to, as she says: “bridge cultures, communities and perspectives through art.” As executive of her own company and a contributor to Double 7 Images, while still working on local and international creative projects, Idil shows me that if your problem is too many creative ideas, you don’t have a problem, you have a gift; and it really is worth sharing with the world. Here, Idil discusses what makes film so powerful, contemporary challenges facing Somalia and how art and the Diaspora can help.
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What drew you to film-making?
I was always interested in film and television as a means of communication by sharing things like ideas, information and experience. However, I fell in love with film while I was an undergraduate student at the University of California, Berkeley. I was inspired to be a filmmaker after taking a class with my professor, the late Loni Ding, who was an amazing Chinese-American documentary filmmaker based in the Bay Area. Loni taught us production but also analysis and I devoted all my time to the creative process. Soon, I realized that I was spending more hours working on my film classes than the rest of my academic coursework. It didn’t take long for me to realize that this is what I wanted to do in life.
What is special about what film can express?
I find film special because of how enchanted I become when I watch an amazing film and I would love to be able to have the same effect on others. I appreciate the way film transports viewers into another time and place. I love that film can educate, entertain, inform and potentially change the way people interact with reality. All art forms are powerful tools of expression with the capacity to connect and reach others.
Idil Ibrahim, Dadaab Kenya, photo by Brenda Phillips
Would you say your heritage inspires your work and what you hope your viewers will take away?
The name of our production company comes from Zeila (Saylac), a city of antiquity, is surrounded by the sea on three sides and served as a center for trade, intercultural exchange and the sharing of ideas for many civilizations. My parents are Somali and I grew up in the States in incredibly diverse areas so I had a multicultural upbringing. I have wanderlust and love meeting new people and connecting with others–which is always expanding and reshaping my personal views and life outlook. I value difference but try to find points of connection between people and places, so I approach my work as such, with an international approach focusing on personal stories, fiction and narrative, that resonates with others.
What do you think are the greatest challenges facing Somalia? What are the mis-perceptions?
I think many people want to write Somalia off as a failed state, full of conflict, humanitarian disasters and disease. Somalia and Somalis worldwide have immense obstacles to overcome, but I believe that Somalia has potential. There are so many individuals within the country and abroad working day and night to change their current reality for the better.
There are many pressing issues in addition to the famine, such as the ongoing conflict and political instability, the threat of extremism, and so on, but I believe in our global society we must remain as engaged and emotionally invested in Somalia as we are in other places. My vision for a healed Somalia would be a place free from conflict and oppression and an end to the cycle of violence that persists in many parts of the country.
How do you think art helps?
Art is a form of expression and it is quite subjective and personal. Applying art to conflict and post conflict settings can help serve as a tool for dialogue, expression, awareness building and hopefully healing and peace-building.
As you know, our organization aims to unite women across Africa and the African Diaspora. How do you think people from across the Diaspora can get involved in helping Somalia?
I believe it is always important for individuals to foster ties with others regardless of background or location. There are many ways people from all backgrounds, Somalis within Somalia, and members of the Diaspora can get involved. The situation in Somalia is complex, so it’s important to understand the context and then find ways to engage, but any step made as an attempt to ease human suffering is crucial. Somalis are resilient and despite the ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis there are numerous individuals forging forward with life and working towards the betterment of society.
Finally, what does living unchained mean to you?
The term “living unchained” symbolizes my personal effort to live free—free from social expectations and conditioning. It reminds me to embrace similarities among people as opposed to focusing on difference, and encourages me to be true to myself, living with integrity and remaining passionate about life and work.
I love Mahatma Gandhi’s quote “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” I know that may come across as really cliché, but I honestly strive to live my life as the quote suggests.
Also, learn more about Somalia and what the Diasporan community is doing to help with the issues Idil discussed at Soobax Blog, The African Future and I Am a Star.
I’m proud to tell our loyal, encouraging and artsy readers that Live Unchained recently won a fellowship to participate in a media entrepreneurship boot-camp with Unity Journalists of Color in Las Vegas, Nevada. Now begins the second phase of the program, a competition for $10,000 in seed money. We would be eternally grateful for your vote here: http://unityjournalists.org/newu/newu2011/newu11videos/unaffiliated-video-pitches/. It only takes a second and you don’t even have to sign up for anything. So, let’s show up and shut it down unchained style!
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The Unity Journalists of Color New U boot-camp was a great experience. Each participant gave a business pitch and, as you’ll see in the video below, mine ended with what conducting Live Unchained interviews with nearly 90 artists from over 16 countries across Africa and the African Diaspora has meant to me:
It meant so much to hear people say that this part of the pitch (the least “businessy” part of it) resonated with them the most. I don’t take this lesson about freeing yourself from others’ ideas–or what you assume their ideas are without even really knowing sometimes–of your passions lightly. From time to time, I have been insecure as an artist and entrepreneur, but my good and bad experiences with networking, branding, budgeting and organizing pounded the false need for validation, security and stability right out of me.
If you want to live unchained, personally and creatively, in a world that encourages conformity, you have to be comfortable standing out. You also have to be grounded enough to not be disturbed by being misunderstood, unheard or stolen from. And, of course, there’s the real work of paying your dues, putting in the time and energy to build your creative dream. For Live Unchained, the truth is, we didn’t start this project with a lot of connections, internet savvy or money; we started with the bare minimum of each. We managed nearly 90 interviews because many more artists never responded to our request. (Also, I spend hours trying to get each post just right so that our interviewees know we don’t take their participation for granted–I used to get like “The Hulk” whenever I found a typo here.) I learned everything I now know about the importance of social media from time and energy draining research after many technology mishaps. And, as far as sustaining Live Unchained financially, I’m still funding as much as I can out of pocket while living on a student budget–eating cheap rice and canned beans most days (seriously). The point is, if we let any of this stop us, we wouldn’t be living unchained.
Kathryn after finding a typo in a Live Unchained blog post
We are completely committed to the vision of Live Unchained as a non-profit organization, which is why we’re still going forward. Our dedication is also why winning this grant would mean so much, it represents all we ever needed: a chance. I know how much it inspires me to see black women telling their own stories in ways that common language could never capture, those that challenge cliché depictions of us in the media or our under-representation in the artworld (both of which have become way too palatable for mass consumption). Women artists, their fans and communities, need an initiative that encourages them to connect, create and Live Unchained; it would mean the world to us if you could help us create that. Growth starts one step at a time, with our first event, a revised site and non-profit incorporation–your vote can help us get the funding to do all that and more. So, please visit http://unityjournalists.org/newu/newu2011/newu11videos/unaffiliated-video-pitches/ and help help Live Unchained rise.
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