Category: Black Is Beautiful series

A collection of beautiful Black voices and stories celebrated. Finding beauty in our Blackness always.

Posted on in Black Is Beautiful series

Black is Beautiful Mini Blog Series – CREATIVES Edition Part 4: Hey, Chelsea!

Hello, Renrenspeakers! Happy fourth and last Saturday of the month! Black History Month is coming to an end, and I am sad about that! You know what time it is on the blog – time for another feature to be showcased! Unfortunately, this is the last of the series, but today’s interview features such a special person to me who will be closing out the Black is Beautiful – CREATIVES Edition mini blog series with Part 4! Let’s welcome to the virtual stage, my Big, Chelsea! In true Renrenspeaks fashion, I gotta hype up Chelsea before we delve into her story on the blog.

Chelsea is my Big, yall! I was so blessed to befriend Chelsea at UCSD, for we hit it off immediately when we met! We were like actual twins in terms of everything that we were doing – we were both natural hair enthusiasts, had the same major, both worked at the Black Resource Center (BRC), and, might I add, very cool ;). During my freshman year, the BRC put on this Big/Little program to help acclimate little ol’ freshman like me to college life. Though the program was a larger “family” unit, Chelsea and I were the younger ones of the family who really hit it off! I remember meeting up at Price Center or other places around campus often to chat about all things life, her hosting a natural hair sleepover night (she put me on this bomb homemade natural hair deep conditioner recipe that I used for years), and literally just her offering her unconditional love and support throughout college. Chelsea is such a bright and dope spirit who is soooo multi-talented and has many gifts she seamlessly executes. I am blown away by the creative projects that she has cultivated and has put into action, and by the many accolades she deserves as a result of her hard work. Yall, let’s give it up for this incredible soul, my wonderful Big, Chelsea!

Irene: What is your name/pronouns?

Chelsea: Chelsea Hicks, She/Her

Irene: Give us a quick synopsis of who YOU ARE! 

Chelsea: My name is Chelsea Hicks and I am a freelance film and video editor based in Brooklyn, NY who takes pride in using my talents to support the visions of fellow storytellers. As an editor, I strongly believe that representation behind the camera is just as important as being on the big screen. Fueled by my ancestors and the legacy I aspire to leave behind, my ultimate goal is to become a well-rounded storyteller who will bring fresh ideas to the entertainment industry. It is through the power of representation that I hope to educate and empower others that look like me to pursue their wildest dreams. 

Irene: Choose three words that come to mind when you think of “Blackness”. Define each word in its relationship to “Blackness”. Why did you choose these three words?

Chelsea:

Culture – In the words of Yoncé, “YOU ARE THE VISUAL BABY.” We are so creative in everything we do, from the way we speak, to the way we dress. With the age of social media, it has become even more clear how much we’ve influenced the world. 

Dynamic – Blackness never has been and never will be a monolith. We come in all shapes, sizes, colors, personalities, and occupations, and I love that despite any differences, there always seems to be an unspoken familial connection between us. 

Love – We are such a loving people, sometimes to a fault. But I’m in awe of how big our hearts have been from one generation to the next even as we continue to be subjected to systemic oppression. 

Irene: What is the MOST beautiful thing about being Black to you?

Chelsea: The most beautiful thing about being Black is our spirit as a people. Our ability to persevere through hard times and to muster up the most joyous laugh from the depths of our souls no matter the situation speaks volumes about our character/community, despite efforts to create false narratives about who we are. 

Irene: Define “being a creative.” How has your experience been as a Black creative in your respective field/interest/passion thus far?

Chelsea: I think “being a creative” means tapping into your own imagination to bring your ideas to life. This can range from how to redecorate your room, to how to put together an outfit, to writing a movie script. All of these things require the ability to have a vision, which I believe everyone has. I would say what distinguishes someone as a creative is the willingness to execute.

As a Black woman, my experience as a creative has been both rewarding and frustrating simultaneously. I love my work and look forward to the pride I feel when I put the pieces together for a narrative. However, over the course of my career, I’ve felt unheard, overworked, and disrespected. My knowledge has been questioned and I’ve felt stripped of my own power to speak up about my own ideas. But through these difficult times, I’ve been able to learn more about my strengths, what I will and won’t tolerate, and how to move forward with my integrity still intact. 

Irene: How did you get into the creative space? 

Chelsea: During my internship at the UC San Diego Women’s Center, I created a video project about Black women and the importance of hair in our community. Not knowing how to use editing software at the time, I typed out the edit on a Google doc and collaborated with my high school friend so he could put all of the videos together. This experience is what sparked my interest in editing, not just as a hobby but as a career. After I graduated from UC San Diego, I took a gap year to explore my interests. I was in between wanting to go to film school to learn more about editing or pursuing a Master’s in Public Health because I felt that it would be a more stable option. Ultimately, I decided to take a leap of faith and attend film school, and I am so happy that I let my heart lead me in the right direction.  

Irene: Tell us more about one of your favorite projects that you have worked on thus far. Why was this project meaningful to you, and what did you learn from this experience?

Chelsea: One of my favorite projects has been creating my first short film, CONTRABAN. It’s about a dystopian world where BIPOC citizens are banned from reproducing, and follows a married Black couple that is navigating illegally conceiving a child in this society. It was the first script I have ever written and was initially just for a class assignment in film school. Being the perfectionist that I am, I took it very seriously. I wanted to create something unique that centered Black characters. I was extremely intentional about various story details such as making sure my main characters were dark skinned because of colorism in the film industry, and highlighting married Black couples because of the frequent depiction of single Black women in the mainstream. But I had no idea at the time that I was creating something that would go on to be an Oscar-qualified short film. I was just focused on getting an A in the class. But the accolades weren’t the best part. The best part was being able to create the story that I wanted and feeling a sense of peace knowing that I gave it my all even if no further success came from it. I was not focused on winning or making money. I just wanted to create a compelling narrative that I could feel proud of. From this experience, I learned to make sure I always keep my vision at the forefront even when people try to pull me in different directions, and to always keep an open mind for feedback while also acknowledging that it’s okay to say “no.” 

Irene: Any advice, gems, or words of encouragement for aspiring Black creatives? 

Chelsea: Never dim your light for the egos of men 😉

Irene: What is one of your favorite songs that fits/exemplifies that Black is Beautiful?

Chelsea: Beyoncé – Formation 

Irene: How can we support a fellow amazing Black creative like yourself? Do you have any projects, businesses, creations, etc. that you are working on currently that you would like to speak briefly about, drop below, and/or that we can support?

Chelsea: Currently, I’m working on expanding the world of CONTRABAN. I don’t know what God has in store, and I’ve had several setbacks, but I’m trying my best to push through. So stay tuned! 

Irene: Can folks connect with you to learn more about you/support you? If so, please drop your social media info down below!

Chelsea:

IG Handle: chelseadhicks

IG Handle for CONTRABAN news: contrabanshortfilm 

Email: chelseadenhicks@gmail.com

Website: chelseadhicks.com

—

Chelseaaaa, my Big! Yes! In the words of Queen Yoncé, we really are the visual, baby! Black people, don’t let this world make us forget that! I love your take on what it takes to be a creative. I believe you are exactly right – everyone can acquire some sort of vision. I think where the deviation comes between creatives and non-creatives is the execution. Sometimes we get so caught up with how well the execution should look that we are often our biggest barriers to occupying creative spaces. Yall, I remember Chelsea’s first video project – the importance of hair in the natural community. It was such a powerful collection of stories that she compiled together promoting critical dialogue about natural hair. Stardom was born that day, am I right? Also I HAVE TO SAY – if you haven’t already, go and watch CONTRABAN. It is SO good and I literally had no words when I initially watched it. Chelsea’s intentionality with this film shines through in every scene. My gosh, talk about the power of storytelling!

Well, Renrenspeakers, I hate to have to announce this, but this is the conclusion of the Black is Beautiful – CREATIVES Edition mini blog series! I loved reading each and every feature and working with these inspiring, multi-talented individuals that I am glad to call my friends. This was a time of reconnection for me, as well as a time to reimagine for myself what it means to be creative in the blogging space. I hope that yall enjoyed this series as much as I did and took away some valuable gems and words of wisdom that were imparted on the blog this month. I just LOVE being Black, and I am so happy that I was able to illustrate yet again that Blackness is not a monolith – we do so much and we are in so many diverse spaces! We can be artists, storytellers, podcasters, the list goes on! Yall’s upmost support on the blog with sharing, commentary, and overall praise has been rewarding, so thank you for engaging as well, Renrenspeakers! If you haven’t already, stay plugged in with Renrenspeaks on Instagram! Also, make sure to subscribe to stay caught up with the content that I have coming your way! Stay boldly, unapologetically Black, and enjoy these last few days of Black History Month! 🙂

Peace and love,

Irene

Posted on in Black Is Beautiful series

Black is Beautiful Mini Blog Series – CREATIVES Edition Part 3: Hey, Arielsela!

Hello, Renrenspeakers! Happy third Saturday of the month! Black History Month is flyinggg by, don’t ya think? Though the month is going by quickly, we still have some more features to highlight on the Black is Beautiful mini blog series – CREATIVES Edition! Part 3 is here, and the wonderful person who will be featured on the blog today is my good older sis from college, queen Arielsela! Let’s briefly get into my boast session about Arielsela before we delve into the interview.

Arielsela – where do I even begin in the recount of my beautiful memories with this amazing individual? I have so many. I initially met Arielsela during my freshman year of college. I remember joining the African Student Association (ASA), and she was one of the friendly faces that I quickly became acquainted with and made me feel more comfortable during my transition to college. Her aura was soooo warm, and I could just immediately tell that she was a person I wanted to become friends with. We share so many fun memories together, from being on ASA board, being on the West African dance team, attending museums and other artsy events, enjoying bougie brunches, and her walking for a fashion show I hosted during college as one of my fabulous models. I always looked up to her as a breathtaking individual with many talents and skills to offer this world, and look at her now executing them effortlessly! She is a STUNNING individual inside and out, and I am so excited to share her compelling story today on the blog!

Irene: What is your name/pronouns?

Arielsela: Arielsela Holdbrook-Smith (she/her/they/them)

Irene: Give us a quick synopsis of who YOU ARE! 

Arielsela: Hi! My name is Arielsela, and I am a Ghanaian-American artist and community health professional currently based out of New York City and originally from Los Angeles. Themes I’m interested in include storytelling, Afro-Diasporic expressions, social equity, collective healing, and the transdisciplinary integration of arts, media, and public health. I recently started taking my creativity seriously which has landed me back in school studying performance and interactive media (so take everything I just said and add a tech programming element)!

Irene: Choose three words that come to mind when you think of “Blackness”. Define each word in its relationship to “Blackness”. Why did you choose these three words?

Arielsela:

Ancestry  – So much of our modern cultures are rooted in a deep, rich history! We have a profound connection to our ancestors.

Energy – The Diaspora is so vast, Blackness exists in vibrant and varied expressions around the world.

Artistry – We are continuously creating, making something out of “nothing”, and challenging the workings of society.

Irene: What is the MOST beautiful thing about being Black to you?

Arielsela: The HUMOR. We are HILARIOUS, and I’m a person who loves to laugh. Our sense of humor is really top-tier around the Diaspora and our collective joy is incredibly powerful. 

Irene: Define “being a creative.” How has your experience been as a Black creative in your respective field/interest/passion thus far?

Arielsela: I think you’re a creative if you consider yourself one, but it’s also such an expansive descriptor. The things that usually stand out to me about creative folks are a desire to create and play with ideas, a desire to imagine and re-imagine what this world looks like and how we show up in it.

As a Black creative, so much of my creative practice is connected to culture and ancestry, and an exploration of intersecting experiences. As a Black public health creative, I like to engage in work that bends the traditional frameworks of public health and the arts, but it took me a while to find that intersection of disciplines because the two fields don’t necessarily talk about each other like that (in many academic and professional spaces, we know these conversations been had outside the ivory towers). At least coming up in school, public health spaces didn’t really delve into what arts and media could look like, and vice versa. So it’s been a journey of following a passion as it’s unfolding and as you’re just finding the language to even describe your inklings and intuitions. 

Moving to NYC to attend public health grad school, I definitely was looking to do more creative exploration. I met other Black creatives in the community health department, including my faculty mentor, and secured an arts in medicine internship with the hospital system within the first couple months, and the world of arts in public health started to really open up. The start of the pandemic ended my internship before my first big collab. I wish I could say I jumped into my creative bag but I was busy trying to be a global public health student in a global public health crisis (story for another day!!), but in the months post-grad applying for jobs, I landed a part-time position facilitating arts and mental health workshops for Black college students. I could really go on about how meaningful it was to connect with Black students from around the country, write some poetry together, build community, and vibe. And from there, I dove into the arts & public health intersection once again, particularly by going to conferences. It’s still a little niche, but a rapidly expanding sector. And Black creatives are honestly showing up and showing OUT over here! Are we ready to talk about the bi-directional arts to public health pipeline yet??

Irene: How did you get into the creative space? 

Arielsela: Completely by way of interest, honestly! For as long as I can remember, I’ve pursued creative spaces and opportunities for expression. It’s fun for me! The medium of choice has switched pretty often – between extracurriculars and just general hobbies, I’ve explored a variety of creative spaces from fashion to sketch work to poetry. Dance is one that has really stuck around but I don’t have a lot of formal training because dance classes don’t come cheap! Instead, I have early memories of my mom teaching my sister and me cultural dances at home that we performed at the school talent show. I also have my friends to thank for their encouragement and support, from taking me to my first open mics to attending shows I was involved in. 

Specifically with performance art, I got into it both out of interest and for personal growth. Despite struggling with performance anxiety, I’ve always really loved performance art for the ways it allows us to embody, express, and explore the range of human experience. Engaging in performance art often allows me a space to practice a lot of life lessons/growth points like honoring where my body/mind/spirit is at, being comfortable taking up space instead of playing small, and releasing fear of judgment, to name a few things! With that said, the nature of my performance work is typically collaborative and collective, and focused on the ways that it can foster community healing.

Irene: Tell us more about one of your favorite projects that you have worked on thus far. Why was this project meaningful to you, and what did you learn from this experience?

Arielsela: One project that I think about often is the Rikers Public Memory Project, which collected the oral histories of and in collaboration with people who were formerly incarcerated at or otherwise impacted by Rikers Island. The project aimed to create a narrative collection on archive at the New York Public Library and an interactive multimedia exhibit to continue to push for the closing of the Rikers Island prisons. I had the honor of transcribing the stories of people who were previously incarcerated at Rikers. Stories are so precious, particularly those that are typically silenced. I learned so much about the histories of mass incarceration and restorative justice frameworks; however, the stories really did impact me the most, and the disproportionate impact on the Black community weighs heavy. We cannot forget the atrocities people have experienced there for decades.  It was interesting to be a part of a multidimensional process that tapped into the power of narrative, arts, and population health for social impact. 

Irene: Any advice, gems, or words of encouragement for aspiring Black creatives? 

Arielsela: Don’t wait for permission or external validation before you start to create! If there’s an idea you have, actualize it! It can be scary to tell people your ideas, but sometimes that opens the door to some amazing opportunities and/or collaborations. Know that what you have to offer is valuable, and your voice is necessary! Don’t worry about making something “revolutionary” or “good”, just let your creative intuition take the lead. And don’t forget to enjoy the process of creating. Also! Document everything! Not just for public posting, make sure you have a personal archive to revisit.

Irene: What is one of your favorite songs that fits/exemplifies that Black is Beautiful?

Arielsela: Rush by Ayra Starr!

Irene: How can we support a fellow amazing Black creative like yourself? Do you have any projects, businesses, creations, etc. that you are working on currently that you would like to speak briefly about, drop below, and/or that we can support?

Arielsela: I am currently looking to expand my craft(s) and am open to aligned collaborations with other Black creatives and Afro-Diasporic arts, especially. And if anyone happens to know of any good learning/training opportunities in the realm of Afro-Diasporic movement and performance in NYC, please send them my way!

Working on documenting and sharing my current projects, so stay tuned!!

Irene: Can folks connect with you to learn more about you/support you? If so, please drop your social media info down below!

Arielsela:

IG: @sela.setta 

LinkedIn: Arielsela Holdbrook-Smith

Venmo: @Ariel-SHS

Irene: Anything else you want us to know about you or anything you want to share with the readers? Feel free to drop it down below!

Arielsela: Just that I appreciate their reading ❤ open to chats and thoughts, willing to share info/resources/learnings with others also exploring this area!

—

Arielsela is soooo dope, my goodness. First of all, the relationship between the arts and public health and you paving the way for this niche, emerging practice area is incredible. I cannot say myself that I have deeply pondered on the intersection of the two. I love that you are carving out your own professional and personal path in this area of interest because the arts are so moving and so healing. I also believe it will challenge us to think unconventionally about health systems, beliefs, and customs. Your take on performance art to promote collective healing is touching, and I admire the reminder that it is an opportunity to take up space rather than shrinking yourself. Your role in the The Rikers Public Memorial Project sounds like a moving opportunity to highlight and augment the voices of the unheard and silenced. I am glad that you were put in that position to do so and further promote collective, community healing through your creative lens. Thank you for the gems that you dropped today on the blog because I find myself sometimes resorting to external validation to pursue creative ventures, which I should eliminate completely from my mindset!

As always, I am continuously uplifted and inspired by these features. Thank you, Arielsela, for showcasing your talents with us today on the blog. Don’t forget to stay plugged into the blog this month for more content on the Black is Beautiful mini blog series – CREATIVES Edition! Part 4 of the blog series, aka the LAST post (so sad!) will be here next Saturday! It will sneak up quickly, so don’t forget to keep up with the series by subscribing to Renrenspeaks.com and following the Renrenspeaks Instagram page for notifications and updates! Continue to let your Blackness shine unapologetically!

Peace and love,

Irene

Posted on in Black Is Beautiful series

Black is Beautiful Mini Blog Series – CREATIVES Edition Part 2: Hey, Sage!

Hello, Renrenspeakers! Happy second Saturday of Black History Month! Yall know what time it is – time for another installment of the Black is Beautiful mini blog series – CREATIVES Edition feature! The second person that we will be learning more about today is an INCREDIBLE artist and visionary, Sage. Before we get into today’s interview, let’s take a brief dive into how I was introduced to Sage.

Sage is especially cool because he is a study-abroad friend I met virtually after living in Ghana for a few months back in 2018. Shoutout to Whatsapp for connecting us. When I was in Ghana, I met soooo many people in passing that I cannot keep up with. However, I remember my friends talking about this remarkable artist who painted several shirts for my friends. At the time, I missed my opportunity. Fast forward to coming back to the U.S., my good study abroad sis, Blessing, connected me to Sage as an opportunity to finally get my custom made shirt and to support his artwork overall. He made me this stunning shirt with a Black woman’s face in the heart of the motherland on a yellow shirt that is very flattering for my skin tone. It was such a pretty shirt made especially for me that I still wear regularly. Sage has so much God-given talent that I am so honored to share today with yall on the blog!

Irene: What is your name/pronouns?

Sage: Hi, my name is Laryea Enoch Nii Adjei, and I go by Sage.

Irene: Give us a quick synopsis of who YOU ARE! 

Sage: I am privileged to be an artist. I am a student of the various African artists that have come before me, and my art and techniques have grown and will continue to grow because of that. My work for the past six years has used revealing aspects of my culture and its history, which profoundly impact how I create as an artist. My art is dynamic, and like culture, it’s ever-changing, which has helped me grow as an individual and artist. As audiences view my art, it is my hope that they also undergo the process of change and evolution.

My work ranges from ceramics, sculpting, body painting, illustrating, graffiti, murals, and painting. Occupying the spaces between Afrocentrism, traditional, contemporary, modern, realism, and abstract art, I use diverse materials and techniques to manifest my ideas. I often focus on evoking the voices of those who are often unheard while utilizing various emotions when creating. 

I am interested in social change and humanity, such as the struggles we all face on a daily basis and how art can serve as a bridge to bring people together. Being from Ghana, my painting is inspired by the shapes and patterns of watching cultural dance and the expressions of my people in good and bad times. That is constantly on my mind while I sculpt, paint, and produce bodies of work. I am producing art of people who look like me with various emotions. When I create, I pull from that life experience.

One of my goals for my viewers is that they are inspired when they see my work. I hope it brings them joy and encourages them to lean into their imaginative and creative side.

My works have been exhibited in shows with the Ulti-Leaf Foundation, Ghana Commission for UNESCO, UN Information Center (UNIC) Accra, and the Ghana Association of Visual Artists. I have also collaborated on murals across Accra, Ghana.

Irene: Choose up to three words that come to mind when you think of “Blackness”. Define each word in its relationship to “Blackness”. Why did you choose these words?

Sage:

Love – Black people around the Earth love naturally. With what we have been through throughout the century and even now with slavery, apartheid, colonization, colorism, gun violence, and more, we as a people still have love within our hearts. Sometimes, it’s a bit too much, but I think it’s one of the most important things that keeps us going as a people. 

Peace – From my perspective of being a Ghanaian and within my family home where I was raised with more than 50 people in the home, whenever there was conflict in our home, the elders would always come with peace. They believed it was better to maintain peace than to fight. Just like love, I believe we are a people of peace. Sometimes that doesn’t work for us, but it’s also peace that keeps us going as well. 

I chose the words love and peace because I incorporate them in all of the work that I create. It is a part of me as a Black person.

Irene: What is the MOST beautiful thing about being Black to you?

Sage: One of the most beautiful things about being Black is our resistance – our ability to resist every condition that has been enforced on us. I would also like to add that Black culture is the most beautiful. It’s so dynamic. I attempt to add it to every part of the work I create. It makes me happy.

Irene: Define “being a creative.” How has your experience been as a Black creative thus far in your respective field/interest/passion?

Sage: Being creative is the ability of creating something from nothing. It is using our imagination and skills to produce art that evokes feeling into the viewer. Creating something that will withstand the test of time, changing mindsets, and causing societal change helps move mankind in a better direction.  As an artist, most importantly a Black artist, my art has helped me to evolve personally and understand our culture. As a Black art in Ghana, it has been a struggle, as people there are focused on survival. Thus, it’s hard to sell my art for its value. This is understandable, but I would like to see African art and artists valued for what it is and not valued down.

Irene: How did you get into the creative space? 

Sage: I have always known from a young age that I was an artist. This is something I was born to do. I have worked hard to develop this talent into a skill that I enjoy. When I was in college, I used my creative skills to develop and print T-shirts to sell. Doing that supported me throughout my time in the Northern Region of Ghana where I schooled. In 2012, I started partaking in Chale Wote. It’s an annual street festival that “targets exchanges between scores of local and international artists and patrons.” There, I learned to network, work within the community teaching kids about art, and spearheading the next generation of artists. I also picked up some skills there that I use to this day.

Irene: Tell us more about one of your favorite projects that you have worked on thus far. Why was this project meaningful to you, and what did you learn from this experience?

Sage: One of my favorite projects I have worked and am still working on is called Elevation. I am yet to showcase all of it, but this project is close to my heart because it has to do with the bond of a family. Coming from a single parent household, I see how important it is to have all members of the family present in the home. The project focuses on “broken home” from my perspective and how that can impact the children and adults involved. Family unity and the strength of an African woman are important to me. I have seen and experienced that strength growing up with a single mother with four kids. I saw the resilience of her providing and protecting her family through all the struggles that came her way and how she navigated them. 

Irene: Any advice, gems, or words of encouragement for aspiring Black creatives? 

Sage: Focus on what you want to do and stay determined, work hard, and most importantly, love what you do and you will see results. People will believe in you, but you must believe in yourself if you want to see change. 

Irene: What is one of your favorite songs that fits/exemplifies that Black is Beautiful?

Sage: From the album Distance Relative by Damian Marley and Nas – Africa Must Wake Up.

Irene: How can we support a fellow amazing Black creative like yourself? Do you have any projects, businesses, creations, etc. that you are working on currently that you would like to speak briefly about, drop below, and/or that we can support?

Sage: You can find me on Instagram at sageartgh.

Below are some of Sage’s breathtaking artwork. Check out these pieces!

—

Sage, thank you for sharing your story and for displaying some of your fabulous art pieces on this platform today. These pieces are stunning, and I am just so in awe by the way that you can explore your creativity through the various forms of media that you’ve mastered. Chale Wote was SUCH a fun event when I went, and I am glad that they have you as an artist to contribute to its vibrancy. I am so excited to see the final reveal of Elevation. The inspiration behind this project is beautiful, as African women are SO resilient and strong. I am sure that your mother is going to feel so honored upon the reveal. Thank you for reminding us about the importance of believing in ourselves as well. It is easy to want other people to believe in us, but if we cannot believe in ourselves, what is the point? What a wonderful gem you’ve shared today.

I hope everyone enjoyed Sage’s interview and the associated digital art gallery today on the blog as much as I did. Please continue to stop by the blog and stay caught up on the Black is Beautiful mini blog series – CREATIVES Edition Part 3 dropping next Saturday! Don’t forget to subscribe to Renrenspeaks.com and follow the Renrenspeaks Instagram page for notifications and updates! As always, stay young, gifted, and Black!

Peace and love,

Irene

Posted on in Black Is Beautiful series

Black is Beautiful Mini Blog Series – CREATIVES Edition Part 1: Hey, Kyler!

Hello, Renrenspeakers! I hope Black History Month has been treating you well thus far! The first person I am so honored to have to kick us off with this exciting series, Black is Beautiful mini blog series – CREATIVES edition, is an old colleague and friend of mine, Kyler! Before we launch into the interview, lemme tell yall a little about Kyler!

I distinctly remember meeting Kyler during my senior year of high school when I attended the UC San Diego Black Student Union overnight program. This was an opportunity to learn more about UCSD, and more specifically, to engage with the Black community in an intimate setting, as I was heavily considering which college I would be attending the following year. I literally remember him being one of the first, friendly faces that I became acquainted with. I know it was probably partly his job (lol), but he seemed to be very interested in getting to know more about me. He always made it a point to say hello and check up on me during the program. Once I became an official Triton, he actually remembered who I was, and he always was the first one to invite me to all the Black events happening on campus and extend himself as a resource. Since then, we have been able to reconnect through our own creative platforms years later. Kyler is doing BIG THINGS, as you all will quickly find out. He is multi-talented and has a plethora of creative outlets that are so impressive – I can’t keep up! That being said, let’s launch into the interview today!

Irene: What is your name/pronouns?

Kyler: Kyler Nathan IV, He/Him/His

Irene: Give us a quick synopsis of who YOU ARE! 

Kyler: Similar to every soul reading this, I am still figuring it out.  When people ask though, I am a multi-hyphenated artist from the greatest city in the multiverse, Los Angeles, California.  Those hyphens include being a storyteller, poet, writer, spoken word artist, author, podcaster, graphic designer, and probably some more depending on when you are reading this.  I am a curious person who is trying to make sense of the world and what it means to be human, so I can share those findings with others through story.  Outside of that, I am a higher education professional who specializes in Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion, as well as a 2-Time Triton receiving a B.S. in Cognitive Science (focused in Human Cognition), an African-American Studies Minor, as well as an MBA from UC San Diego and Rady School of Management respectively.

Irene: Choose three words that come to mind when you think of “Blackness”. Define each word in its relationship to “Blackness”. Why did you choose these three words?

Kyler: Dynamic, Expressive, Communal.

Blackness is dynamic.  Many people have heard the notion that we are “not a monolith” as Black people.  Throughout the history of Black people across the globe, we have grown in our understanding of who we are, what we are capable of, and what we are up against.  I chose dynamic because I truly believe there is a living force within us all that keeps us growing and evolving in everything that we do.  I remember growing up, my view of Blackness was limited to what I saw on TV and in my neighborhood, and it wasn’t always portrayed in the most loving light.  Now? I have met so many beautiful Black people who are consistently growing in themselves, and learning more and more about their potential.

Blackness is expressive.  We live in a time where we are finally starting to see some representation in mainstream media of Black-identifying individuals.  If you are looking in the right places, you will see a diversity of Black images in the media; however, there is still a lot more progress to be made to see Black images that include folks of different sizes, skin tones, gender identities, gender expressions, ability, and more.  As someone who hosts a podcast with predominantly Black guests, and has been in many art spaces of other Black artists, the ways I have seen Black people express themselves is unmatched.  From our hair and our wardrobe (ESPECIALLY the homies from the continent, y’all be DRESSING!!!), to our written and spoken words, there is so much beauty and history in the ways we choose to express ourselves.

Blackness is communal.  We need each other.  We need each other.  We need each other.  The older I get, I realize just how communal we are as a people.  I can never feel fully at rest until I know my people are good.  In June 2020, when the world found out racism was “still” around, I saw so much love going in every direction between Black folks everywhere.  When I was in college, BSU meetings felt more important than anything else, because this was time to check in with my people.  When I worked as a staff member at the Black Resource Center at UC San Diego, I knew I had the most enviable job in the world, fostering community for Black students.  Seeing our elders and youth out in public and sharing loving glances at them to let them know “I See You.”  

All these things are so important to my definition of Blackness.

Irene: What is the MOST beautiful thing about being Black to you?

Kyler: The MOST beautiful thing about being Black to me is also one of the principles of Kwanzaa, UJIMA, which focuses on collective work and responsibility.  It is so beautiful to me when I am able to talk to other Black folks about what they are passionate about, and almost always, it is rooted in some type of collective responsibility toward our communities.  What makes it beautiful is how deep-rooted this is in everything that we do as Black people.  Affirming each other in a world that aims to sometimes do the complete opposite, giving “the nod” to another Black person I see walking, or checking in on each other’s family, it is all rooted in there being a unifying force between us all that makes us want to uplift each other in this world.

Irene: Define “being a creative.” How has your experience been as a Black creative thus far in your respective field/interest/passion?

Kyler: To me, “being a creative” is when you look at that question, and subconsciously unpack the layers of it based on your unique perspective of how to interpret and convey meaning.  Creative people see the universe and apply their own mental artistry to make more sense of it all in a way that works for them.  To some people, that may be over complicating a simple concept; however, as someone who writes poems and studied the mind in college, it is impossible for me to not see creativity as something that is so universal and so individualistic at the same time.  This very question is really a pillar of why I started The Banquet Hall Podcast – I wanted creatives to have the long-form space to be able to share with listeners the unique lens through which they experience our universe.  I invite everyone taking the time to indulge in this blog post to imagine you are laying in the grass staring at the sky.  A visual artist might be thinking about the hues of colors they are seeing and distinguishing the variety of blues, grays, and other colors they see.  A sound engineer might be thinking of all the sounds they are hearing and might be moved to close their eyes and tune out the visual field and count how many things they hear.  An environmentalist who writes poetry might be thinking about the feelings they have about all the pollutants in the air.  We all have our individual creative perspectives – which is why I think everyone is a creative if you ask them enough right questions.  I think in this capitalist society, we get caught up a lot in being a creative necessitating that you are producing something, but being a creative starts in the mind.

As a Black creative, my experience has been amazing and very frustrating all the same.  

Starting with the amazing parts, Black creatives love uplifting and supporting other Black creatives.  I love when I see someone putting their work out there for the first time, or highlighting their first sale, or celebrating a new milestone with their creative passions.  There is so much grief going on in our world.  Being in community with other Black creatives is a much needed boost of Black joy on any day.  I also just am so appreciative of how intersectionality flows with creativity – a painting starts to mean so much more to me if I know that the artist is a Black Queer Woman versus if it is a white male.

The frustrating part… Capitalism rewards a lot of content that just isn’t good.  You can open any social media app right now and see the latest mediocrity (with all due respect to all creatives everywhere) being pumped up through the algorithm to millions of views.  Scroll a couple times and you might see your friend trying to publicize content or a product that they spent a lot of hard work, thought, and effort to put together.  A lot of times (especially on TikTok), you see a white creator getting millions of dollars in endorsements and support for copying something that a Black creator put out there already.  That frustration though is recycled into my unconditional support for my friends out here grinding trying to find a place in this world.  It is an uphill battle being a Black creative, we need to take more intentional time to affirm that work so we stop losing amazing content due to a lack of perceived support.

Irene: How did you get into the creative space? 

Kyler: The short answer is that life got me into it!  The long answer though starts with peer pressure, and ends in affirmation through introspection.

There are 763 notes in my phone on this app called Evernote.  There are additional notes on other random notes apps on old phones, some things written in journals, and some that only exist in books I’ve published.  The first note though is dated 4/25/2011, 3 days before my 15th birthday, and 12 days before my life changed very significantly (that story is saved for the books).  Anyways, 2 of my friends at the time, Izzy and Orson, were starting to write raps and recording them.  They would be planning time to record and forming connections through writing, and I didn’t want to be left out, so I tried writing something.  I still cringe whenever I look back at that first piece (including when I just looked it up to double-check the date).  Fast forward over the course of the rest of that year, I started writing a LOT.  As with many poets, it all started with falling for a girl and a subsequent heartbreak.  So, so many love-themed poems.  Eventually, it got to a point where I had enough poems to where it didn’t make sense not to put it in a book and try to make some money off of it.  My dad is a poet and author and had published multiple books, so I had some guidance in how to get it done.  I will never forget sitting in the Oakland airport and compiling my first book, 5 South, as I sat and reflected on just how much emotion I was writing about.

Podcasting was a different story.  It took forever for me to become a person who engaged with podcasts.  A close friend of mine started a podcast called Melanin Theory, and even though it took me a while to check it out, once I did? I was hooked.  As many creatives know, sustaining your creative outlet when it isn’t seeing the return on investment you are hoping for, is tough.  Eventually, Melanin Theory concluded, and there was a void that I wanted to fill.  I started looking for other podcasts to engage with, and never looked back (shout out to FourDeepPod, Higher Learning with Van Lathan and Rachal Lindsay, The Ringer-Verse, The Big Picture, Crash Dummies, Ned’s Pod, Trials to Triumphs, and so many other podcasters that motivate and entertain me so much).  

Then came December 2020.  Obviously there was/is a global pandemic that 2020 is notorious for, and I wouldn’t feel right if I brought up that year and just skated past that.  Within all of the dark times that 2020 brought, the Lakers won a championship, I released a book (more on that later), and a friend of mine, Tiff, approached me about starting a Lakers podcast. Starting a podcast was already a big leap for someone notoriously as reserved as myself.  We hosted Hoop Dreamz for a couple of seasons, then Andre 1k and I did a season of the Natural Nonsense Podcast.  The support I received for those 2 pods, in addition to a desire to control my own podcast domain, led to me creating The Banquet Hall.

Now, as I begin my next endeavor into a new creative realm, I have been very reflective on my life as a creative to date.  Now, I ask myself why wouldn’t I be in this position? I’ve always been recognized as a humble genius among peers.  Out of fear of narcissism, I never really received that affirmation fully.  I’ve been writing and creating all my life.  I used to write letters to my brother when he was incarcerated and had poems written on some of them.  When I was like 5 or 6 years old I learned how to make greeting cards on a computer and wanted to start my own business called Kidz Kreations.  The creative has always been there, the belief in myself is what life pushed me into.

Irene: Tell us more about one of your favorite projects that you have worked on thus far. Why was this project meaningful to you, and what did you learn from this experience?

Kyler: I don’t know if anything will ever mean as much to me as Obsidian.  The days that I am feeling myself most, I look at Obsidian as a Mona Lisa.  The level of thought and intention I put into every single element of that book is an achievement I am very proud of.  Obsidian is when I first recognized my gift of storytelling.  I started writing it in March 2020 as we navigated Zoom meetings and parking lot pull ups trying to find which way was up.  I finished the book in May, got a copy to proofread, and then was ready to publish it for real in June, then the world had a magnifying glass on racialized injustice against Black folks.  Nothing made sense to me.  I knew there had to be people that were feeling and thinking what I was, but I didn’t know what to do, so I wrote.  Every time that I peeled open my laptop to add words to that Word document, I felt like I was having a conversation around a campfire with people who had gathered just to hear what I had to say.  Publishing it felt like putting a record of that campfire talk into a time capsule hoping that someone found value in it one day.  There are plenty of people who have bought that book to “support me” that didn’t read beyond the page with the ISBN number.  There are also quite a few who bought it, read it, and were moved even more than I could have intended.  

What I learned from that whole experience was that as long as my intentions are true to who I am, whatever I create will always be “good.”  I can’t force people to read something I wrote just because I wrote it.  The truth in the messiness of being a creative is that what you create can’t be expected to be a priority to people, even if those people are your close friends.  Nobody could have ever read Obsidian and I would still deem that book to be an overwhelming success.  I have friends who have bought me Obsidian stones because they read that book and understand what Obsidian means to me.  That matters more than becoming a best-selling author.

Irene: Any advice, gems, or words of encouragement for aspiring Black creatives? 

Kyler: Do it anyway if it matters to you.

There are so many podcasts out there.  None of them are interviewing people I know.  It matters to me that the people in my circle have their stories told, so regardless if episodes get 2 views, 10, 50, or more, I keep going because it isn’t supposed to be about the views for me.  That doesn’t mean that those things never come up.  Of course I would love for everyone to see every episode I ever put out, but unless that’s my why, then it shouldn’t matter.

Capitalism makes us so caught up on trying to be the best or have the most reach, but if we focus on just creating good content that is of value to us, we eventually are able to find homes for our creativity.  Maybe only 3 people are buying your latest hoodie you made.  To those 3 people though, your hoodie may be their favorite thing they own, and that means something to me.

Beyond that, my best advice is to rest, be present, and value time with people in any form it takes, but especially make time to connect with people in real life, real-time, in-person.  Moments matter.

Irene: What is one of your favorite songs that fits/exemplifies that Black is Beautiful?

Kyler: One Man Can Change the World – Big Sean, Kanye West, John Legend

“But how am I supposed to say I’m tired

If that girl from West Virginia came up in conditions that I couldn’t survive

Went to war, came back alive

On top of that became a female Black captain

When being Black you had to extra-extra try”

If I had a fourth word to describe Blackness, it would be dreamer.  I love this song because it is aspirational and encourages dreamers.  It affirms self-love, manifestation, and determination.  It is also deeply emotional in that it ends with Big Sean pouring his heart out about his appreciation for his Grandma followed by a phone conversation with her.  Like I already mentioned, so much of being beautifully Black is the communal nature of it, and who are we without those who came before us.

Irene: How can we support a fellow amazing Black creative like yourself? Do you have any projects, businesses, creations, etc. that you are working on currently that you would like to speak briefly about, drop below, and/or that we can support?

Kyler: The biggest way to support is to tap-in with an episode of The Banquet Hall and share it with a friend.  The biggest hurdle a lot of new podcasts face is discovery, so the more people helping to market the better.  Renrenspeaks was featured on an episode so if you haven’t checked that one out, that is a good place to start.  Beyond that, my books and merch are available on my website as well.  Be on the lookout for a new book coming (hopefully) some time this year!

Irene: Can folks connect with you to learn more about you/support you? If so, please drop your social media info down below!

Kyler: Absolutely.  Connect with me in all of the ways.  The best way to find out everything is to go to my website, thefourthkyler.com.

On all the apps (including Venmo/CashApp), the handle is @TheFourthKyler.  If you want to follow the pod, it is @BanquetHallPod

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylernathaniv/

Support the podcast directly: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/banquethallpod/support

Irene: Anything else you want us to know about you or anything you want to share with the readers? Feel free to drop it down below!

Kyler: The Banquet Hall is open to anyone!  If you have a story you want to tell, let’s connect and get you on the pod!

—

What a great way to start off this series by featuring the storyteller, poet, writer, spoken word artist, author, podcaster, and graphic designer – KYLER! Kyler is an incredibleeeee multi-hyphenated artist, as he has effortlessly exemplified through his storytelling today. I completely agree – we need each other as a Black community. I love how communal we are, no matter where we are in the diaspora. There is an unspoken understanding of one another, and are communal bond is what brings Black joy and peace within our community. I really resonated with the sentiment that you shared, Kyler, about how being a creative starts with the mind rather than the mere focus of producing a tangible item. I think even myself, I often get caught up in “production”, which then limits my ability to create anything that comes to mind. I will be sure to reframe my thinking to allow creativity to become more expansive and achievable, deconstructing all boundaries I put on it. As an aspiring blogger with a relatively small following, your advice is so timely. Thank you for sharing. And lemme say one more thing – Kidz Kreations has my heart. You gotta drop some of those greeting cards you created as a super young Kyler.

Yall, just reading Kyler’s interview has me so pumped and so inspired. I hope yall stay tuned to the blog to keep the momentum going and check out the Black is Beautiful mini blog series – CREATIVES Edition Part 2 dropping next Saturday! Don’t forget to subscribe to Renrenspeaks.com and follow the Renrenspeaks Instagram page for notifications and updates! Stay young, gifted, and Black!

Peace and love,

Irene

Posted on in Black Is Beautiful series

Black is Beautiful Mini Blog Series – CREATIVES Edition is HERE!

Hello Renrenspeakers! Happy first of February, and more importantly, happy Black History Month! The weather is especially poppin today, illuminating the radiance of melanin all over the world. I loveeeee being Black, and one way I love celebrating the beauty and joy of Blackness is the return of my annual Black is Beautiful mini blog series on the blog! This is the third year in a row in which I have been able to collab with some of my favorite, inspiring Black peers and highlight their incredible lives. Can yall believe that? If you haven’t read the other series before, click here to dive deeper into the plethora of Black individuals who continuously exemplify that Black is infinitely beautiful! This edition of the Black is Beautiful mini blog series will delve into the arts and all things creativity by highlighting genius Black creatives who continuously expand the perceived monolith of Blackness put upon us by society.

Yall know the drill! Be on the lookout, because every Saturday in February, I will be featuring a new creative on the blog, for a total of four features! They will be sharing their creative journeys. Continue to show your support and love by reading their stories on the blog. There is a dope lineup of Black creatives ready to share a piece of themselves this month.

The first post will go live on Saturday, February 3rd! Make sure you subscribe to the blog to receive email notifications AND follow @renrenspeaks on Instagram for post reminders.

Again, Black people are not a monolith – we are SO diverse and have so many layers to us. Take advantage of the connections that this mini blog series may bless you with, and continue to love and support us as a community.

Again, Happy Black History Month! Take us out to brunch, invest in Black-owned businesses, read Black literature, and pour into us as a people!

Peace and love,

Irene

Note: image was retrieved from here.

Posted on in Black Is Beautiful series, occupational therapy

Black is Beautiful Mini Blog Series Health Care Edition Part 4: Meet NANCY, OTR/L!

Hello, Renrenspeakers! Happy Saturday and last week of Black History Month! Can you believe that the month is already coming to an end? The month went by so fast! I hope that you all have been supporting Black folks throughout this month through actions such as reading these blog posts! Today I have such an inspiration to me on the blog. I had to save the best health profession for last (no shade to my beautiful Black allied health professions haha). Nancy, OTR/L will be concluding the Black is Beautiful mini blog series with her amazing story. Before we get into it, I am gonna hype up Nancy real quick because she is a person to have in your network!

Unlike everyone else that I have interviewed thus far, Nancy is unique in the fact that I did not meet her at UC San Diego, lol! When I was delving into my occupational therapy (OT) journey, I was desperately searching for Youtube videos on how to be the best competitive applicant and what the field of OT was all about. I came across her Youtube channel, LovelyyOT. After watching her first video, I was hooked. She shared gems and unique insight regarding her experiences as a travel OT, an OT in a SNF, and an OT in entrepreneurship. Nancy is so intelligent and has so much wisdom to give. She further inspired me to pursue OT, as she gave me the confidence as a Black future OT to share my story and to be an advocate for our profession. Moreover, she is so selfless. She took time out of her busy schedule to read my personal essay and give me feedback, which was so kind of her to do and served as a confidence booster throughout my application process. She truly is goals and is making waves in OT. Below is her story. Let’s get into it!

Irene: What is your name/pronouns?

Nancy: Nancy Yamoah, she/her

Irene: Give us a quick synopsis of who YOU ARE! 

Nancy: I am a God-loving Ghanaian and occupational therapist, specializing in adult geriatric rehabilitation. I am popularly known as LovelyyOT on social media. I’m your favorite OT Auntee with all the tea lol. 

I’m a visionary, founder of the Therapist of color/TOC network, created for people of color therapists and students, and co-founder of BLACK IN REHAB. I am also the author of 3 E-books for therapists. My business provides consultation for students and clinicians as well as yearly workshops for new grads. 

My goal is to continue to inspire other healthcare professionals to do more with their degrees and live on purpose, be their true authentic self as well as create a better healthcare system for older adults.

Irene: Choose three words that come to mind when you define “Blackness”. Define each word in relationship to Blackness. Why did you choose these three words?

Nancy: Bold, resilience, beautiful

For you to be authentically Black you have to be bold. This world tries so hard to imprison Black people – the way we talk, walk, dress, etc. The way we show up is constantly criticized, so for me it’s important that am bold in my blackness.

Resilience because it takes strength to be Black. You have to be internally strong.

Beautiful because Black is beautiful, from our skin to our features. The way we are is beautiful.

Irene: What is the MOST beautiful thing about being Black to you?

Nancy: My skin color and my heritage/culture. I am Ghanaian and I love the richness of my culture and my background. The way we speak, our accents, our food, our cultural outfits, who we are is everything. 

Irene: How has your experience been as a Black person in your respective field thus far? 

Nancy: Like I always tell others, life experience can happen to you or you can enjoy it and be a full participant in life experiences. I always choose the latter; my blackness in healthcare has been a wonderful experience because I take an active role in making that happen in every way you can think. I speak up and advocate when needed, I ask for the money I deserve and I will correct you on everything even if you say my name wrong. We get to choose everyday to be victims or conquerors. 

Irene: How do you plan on showing up for the people as a Black person in your respective field? 

Nancy: I have started many platforms and events on social media for both Black and POC and I will continue to support them in this way. Black in rehab is one that I am a co-founder of and very proud of. If you are interested in becoming a rep in your city, contact me. 

Irene: Any advice, gems, or words of encouragement for future Black people who want to pursue your field? 

Nancy: Refer to answer 5, and do not let your color determine what you can or cannot accomplish. This world is your oyster; show up and speak up for yourself. You deserve to walk into a room and pull up a seat. Remember that your power is not in what others gave you permission to do; it is in what you give yourself the permission to do. Don’t wait to be invited! Initiate, create, move. 

Irene: What is one of your favorite songs that fit/exemplifies that Black is Beautiful?

Nancy: African Queen by 2face and Black is Gold by Wale

Irene: How can we support a fellow amazing Black person like yourself? Do you have any projects, businesses, creations, etc. that you are working on that you would like to speak briefly about and/or that we can support?

Nancy: Black in rehab – we have an in person event every Juneteenth weekend in a different state. Join us on IG. We will start hosting more events throughout the year as well. See you in ATL this year.

I also have 1:1 consultations for new OTs. You can book that via Instagram as well as other services and ebooks I have on Lovelyy_ot on IG. 

Irene: Can folks connect with you to learn more about you/support you? If so, please drop your social media info down below!

Nancy: LOVELYYOT on all social media platforms including Youtube.

Irene: Anything else you want us to know about you or anything you want to share with the readers? Feel free to drop it down below! 

Nancy: Be yourself, be unapologetically BLACK! Refrain from the need to prove yourself. You don’t need to prove nothing to anyone. You are enough for whatever dreams you may have.

—

Yall, isn’t Nancy such an iconic woman? So well-versed in so many settings, so many platforms, and most importantly, she connects to so many people. Support our favorite OT Auntee! Her consultations are so helpful! I will be a new grad next year (whoohoo) so best believe I will be reaching back out to my OT Auntee for her guidance. I have yet to meet Nancy in person buuutttt these Black networking events across the nation is something I am going to have to hop on so that we can finally meet! Black in Rehab – what an uplifting space! If yall get the chance to go to ATL this summer, definitely check the event out!

My goodness, does the Black is Beautiful mini blog series really have to end? I am so sad! This has been such a fun series to put on for you all and I have been blessed to have reconnected on a deeper level with all of my interviewees. Each person is so special to me and honestly, we could really all just start our own interdisciplinary clinic and treat people in our communities. I have thoroughly enjoyed featuring all of these amazing individuals on my blog and I hope that you all come away from this series further understanding the vastness of Blackness and how glorious our melanin is. We are the people who are at the frontlines treating you all and helping to restore yall back to health and well-being, remember that! Thank you all again too for supporting me by reading this blog, sharing it with others, and following me on Renrenspeaks on Instagram! Please subscribe as well to get the latest scoop on the content I have coming your way! Stay Black Blackity Black, yall!

Peace and love,

Irene

Posted on in Black Is Beautiful series, race and ethnicity

Black is Beautiful Mini Blog Series Health Care Edition Part 3: Meet CAMBRIA!

Hello, Renrenspeakers! Happy Saturday and third week of Black History Month! How have you been honoring Black people so far this month? I hope one of the numerous ways has been through reading these blog posts that I have for yall! Today I have an incredible person on the blog who I admire so much. Cambria is up next in the Black is Beautiful mini blog series! Before we launch her interview, I am gonna take us back to memory lane and briefly highlight our connection!

Like everyone on the mini blog series thus far, I met Cambria at UC San Diego (college was an opportune time to make connections, I am telling ya!). I was always drawn to Cambria’s kind, sweet, and chill spirit. We were in organizations together such as the Black Student Union and had other mutual leadership roles in Black spaces in college. I remember when she switched over to my major, Human Development, our bond started to grow. We took the same Human Development classes together and got to know each other on a deeper level. It was so refreshing to see another Black face in my classes. Cambria was always a great hype woman and support system, encouraging and affirming me when school got challenging. She really shines as a light in all of her endeavors and radiates such positive, infectious energy. She is also SUCH a hard worker, yall. I am telling ya, she is a go-getter for real. With that being said, I hope that you all get to see her light exude as we delve right into her story!

Irene: What is your name/pronouns?

Cambria: Cambria Anderson, she/hers

Irene: Give us a quick synopsis of who YOU ARE! 

Cambria: I’m from Victorville, CA and currently living in Washington, D.C. attending Howard University College of Dentistry. I went to UC San Diego and graduated in 2018 with a Bachelor of Arts in Human Developmental Sciences and a minor in African American Studies. I’m currently in my second year of school at Howard and my goals are to become a cosmetic dentist and open a clinic where dental care is offered with access and affordability in mind, and to create mentorship and career opportunities for Black dental students in the SoCal area. 

When I’m not in class, simulation lab, or neck deep in lecture notes, I like to watch movies, read, get active, get creative with a decor project for my apartment, or try something new in the DMV area. My “why not, might as welllll” attitude about going outside gets me in trouble with my friends all the time lol, but there are so many community events, markets, film screenings, mixers, day parties, etc that I’ll take every opportunity to experience when I get it. I also have a DC bucket list that I’m trying to work through before I graduate in 2025 – so far I’ve seen all the monuments and the museums are up next!

Irene: Choose three words that come to mind when you define “Blackness”. Define each word in its relation to Blackness. Why did you choose these three words?

Cambria:

Beauty: Across the diaspora, there’s so much beauty in our various cultures, languages, histories, styles, etc. There’s so much to appreciate about the Black experience globally and what we have been able to retain and create in the face of oppression and anti-Blackness and its best attempts to strip us of that.

Creativity: I feel like this is self explanatory, the way our minds work is just…wow lol. We are literally so dope at everything we do!

Pride: My last word is an affirmation from the movie Cool Runnings that came to mind. When I think of Blackness, I see pride, I see power, and I see bad*ss mothers who don’t take no crap off of nobody.

Irene: What is the MOST beautiful thing about being Black to you?

Cambria: That it’s something that you have to experience to really know. Our style, how we create community anywhere and everywhere, the way we talk, inside jokes, our expressions and figures of speech, even the way we can communicate with each other without saying a single word. It’s a gift to be Black to be honest, and even though so many try to imitate it, it can never be duplicated – we’re the blueprint for real!

Irene: How has your experience been as a Black person in your respective field thus far? 

Cambria: Going to Howard for dental school has had a positive impact on my start in the field. Learning from Black faculty and being surrounded by Black peers is empowering and creates a supportive environment, and it is so motivating to see rooms filled with people who look like you opposed to my undergrad environment where I was often one of the only Black students in the room. Black dentists make up about 3-4% of all dentists in the U.S., so I am really soaking up every moment here at Howard before I start to work in the field because it won’t always be like this. Also, my classmates and I are starting to see patients this summer, and I am excited to understand more of what it means to care for my community. From what I’ve experienced, patients place a lot of gratitude and trust in us and that adds so much meaning to what I am able to do for them.

Irene: How do you plan on showing up for the people as a Black person in your respective field? 

Cambria: In college I volunteered in the UCSD PDS free dental clinics, and we served the elderly, children, and those who were homeless, uninsured, and veterans. As a result, the majority of our patients who represented these groups were Black. I credit this as the moment that shaped my goals and gave me a vision for the kind of dentist I want to be. My priority is to address disparities in oral health and create access among marginalized communities by opening a community clinic like those I served in, leading community workshops that educate on preventative oral health practices and destigmatize dentistry as painful and anxiety-inducing, and creating a network with other professionals both within and outside of the healthcare field to refer out patients for other necessary services to address overall health as part of a holistic process. I also want to form partnerships with Black dental student organizations at UCLA, USC, Western University, and Loma Linda University to offer mentorship and clinical experience through service in my clinic. My hope is to create a community for dental students like the one I’ve been able to experience through my time at Howard because it’s been key in my learning and growth thus far, and because I remember what it’s like to find comfort and a sense of relief in seeing another Black person in a mostly non-Black space. 

Irene: Any advice, gems, or words of encouragement for future Black people who want to pursue your field? 

Cambria: Never lose sight of your ultimate goal because despite the obstacles and detours, not following the traditional track, or not having the strongest GPA or DAT scores, what’s for you is for you and you will become the dentist you dream of being! Make sure to seek out mentorship from dentists in the field who will allow you to shadow and gain experience under them, and keep in contact with them because their wisdom is invaluable. Finally, find and remember your why. This is a difficult career to pursue and in those moments where you feel discouraged, tired, or unmotivated (and you will, unfortunately) you have to be able to go back to your sole reason for doing this and remind yourself of the big picture. Remember that these moments do not define your potential or the trajectory of your career, and that you’re destined for all the greatness that you dream for yourself. Nothing or no one can take that away!

Irene: What is one of your favorite songs that fit/exemplifies that Black is Beautiful?

Cambria: Golden by Jill Scott is probably one of my favorite feel good songs that just reminds me to walk in my power as a Black woman, and of course Brown Skin Girl by Beyoncé.

Irene: How can we support a fellow amazing Black person like yourself? Do you have any projects, businesses, creations, etc. that you are working on that you would like to speak briefly about and/or that we can support?

Cambria: Unrelated to my career goals, I have a podcast with my friends called Four Deep and we just dropped our first episode on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube! We are four young Black women in their 20 somethings who aren’t afraid to get deep with it as we discuss life, relationships, careers, and personal development. You can follow us on Instagram, @fourdeeppod.

Irene: Can folks connect with you to learn more about you/support you? If so, please drop your social media info down below!

Cambria: Feel free to follow me on Instagram, @flygalcam or email me at cnande96@gmail.com / cambria.anderson@bison.howard.edu!

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First of all, SUPPORT CAM ON HER PODCAST! I am a podcast junkie, so to see my friend have her own podcast sharing gems and fly girl content is just the icing on the cake. I give her props for balancing a quality podcast while attending dental school full time. It is not an easy thing to do, but of course, if anyone can do it, it is Cambria. Also, it sounds like Cambria literally has the most optimal occupational balance as a dental student. What I’m hearing is that she is the girl to hit up when in D.C. because she has all the plugs! I am also just literally so proud to see the journey that she’s taken to get to dental school because as we have witnessed thus far through the blog posts I’ve been sharing or just through other Black people’s accounts, it is not easy to be Black pursuing a health care profession. The fact that we make up no more than 5% of each respective field is so problematic, so to see people like Cambria actively shifting those statistics is so empowering.

Thank you all so much for tuning into the blog! I really hope that yall enjoyed Cambria’s interview as much as I did. It gave me a kick of inspiration and motivation to continue along my own journey as an occupational therapy student. Part 4, and unfortunately, the last post for my Black is Beautiful mini blog series is live next Saturday, so please remember to be on the lookout! Again, subscribe to my blog and follow me on Instagram at Renrenspeaks for updates! Continue to love on Black people!

Peace and love,

Irene

Posted on in Black Is Beautiful series, race and ethnicity

Black is Beautiful Mini Blog Series Health Care Edition Part 2: Meet CAMERON!

Hello, Renrenspeakers! Happy second week of Black History Month! What is one thing that has brought you joy this past month? For me, it has been connecting with incredible Black individuals at my school and through this blog! We are BACK with another blog interview. Next up in the series is my friend, Cameron who is doing phenomenal things in the field of medicine. Before we start the interview, let me throw yall back to how Cameron and I connected!

I met Cameron during my time at UC San Diego and always thought he was such a cool dude that was very kind and poised. We were also in the Black Student Union together, and we really got to bond over our mutual love for health care. I remember he interviewed me for his enlightening research project back in 2017 regarding Black students and Black health, specifically looking at what social and environmental factors influenced their aspirations to pursue medicine and other health professions. Of course, he contributed GREAT discourse at UC San Diego and to the field of medicine in general! I won’t get too much into it because I want HIM to highlight his many projects and publications. Cameron is a super cool guy, yall, and I am so glad we were able to reconnect to collab on this series for BHM! I am excited for yall to read more about his story down below!

Irene: What is your name/pronouns?

Cameron: Cameron Clerkley, He/Him

Irene: Give us a quick synopsis of who YOU ARE! 

Cameron: Chill, funny and down to earth (so I’ve been told), Bay Area raised (Hayward), sports head (especially basketball), passionate about family, community, serving others and mentoring, love going to movies and concerts, and world traveler.

Irene: Choose three words that come to mind when you define “Blackness”. Define each word in its relation to Blackness. Why did you choose these three words?

Cameron:

  1. Afro-Diaspora – This can represent anyone around the world who identifies with their roots in Africa (since descendants from Africa are everywhere).
  2. Royalty – This represents how I see Black identity because we deserve to think of ourselves in that light as exceptional individuals who deserve praise for our excellence.
  3. Oppressed – This, unfortunately, is because regardless of how you personally identify, if others see you as Black, you are subject to the forms of discrimination for being Black, a universal Black experience that has transcended centuries and geological boundaries.

Irene: What is the MOST beautiful thing about being Black to you?

Cameron: My hair – I love how thick and creative it is. It is difficult to manage at times, but it makes me feel good and proud and unique in the world.

Irene: How has your experience been as a Black person in your respective field thus far? 

Cameron:

  1. Lonely – There aren’t too many Black physicians on my clinical rotations or even just roaming the hospital, but my goal is to help fix that.
  2. Empowering – Because every time another Black person sees me in the hospital, we greet each other or they share words of encouragement to me and the impact of my presence.

Irene: How do you plan on showing up for the people as a Black person in your respective field? 

Cameron: My presence and excellence will demand respect for Black individuals that are not traditionally represented in medicine, and my mentorship to the future generations will hopefully increase our representation in the field.

Irene: Any advice, gems, or words of encouragement for future Black people who want to pursue your field? 

Cameron: You are enough and you are capable, you are unique and that in itself will take you far, you have so much to offer that is unique to being Black, lean into that and ignore anyone who tells you not to – anything you pursue in life will have challenges, so might as well shoot for the moon and pursue your passions/things that bring you joy.

Irene: What is one of your favorite songs that fit/exemplifies that Black is Beautiful?

Cameron:

  1. Say it Loud – James Brown 
  2. Brown Skin Girl – Beyonce, Wiz Kid

Irene: How can we support a fellow amazing Black person like yourself? Do you have any projects, businesses, creations, etc. that you are working on that you would like to speak briefly about and/or that we can support?

Cameron: Share my article to anyone who would identify with/learn from the experiences shared and/or have the capacity to support the cause of uplifting aspiring Black doctors (link- SSVMS – Pursuing Medicine While Black )

Irene: Can folks connect with you to learn more about you/support you? If so, please drop your social media info down below!

Cameron:

  1. @camclerkley11 on Instagram
  2. clclerkley@ucdavis.edu / camclerk11@gmail.com 

Irene: Anything else you want us to know about you or anything you want to share with the readers? Feel free to drop it down below!

Cameron: Irene Kwangaba was a big contributor to the insight and inspiration of my article and entire medical journey since I met her in undergrad. We need more blogs like this one and more people doing similar work as this.

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I am telling yall, how cool is Cameron! I hope you all enjoyed learning about Cameron as much as I did and the amazing ways that he is uplifting Black doctors through whole publications! To see it flourish from a UC San Diego research project to a publication in Sierra Sacramento Valley Medicine is such an accomplishment. UC Davis is blessed to have Cameron as part of their student body, I hope they know that!

Thank you all once again for tuning into the blog today! Remember to support Black people not only this month but every single day, as our voices deserve to be lifted and celebrated consistently. Part 3 of my Black is Beautiful mini blog series – health care edition – will be released next Saturday with another amazing person that I am so excited to highlight! Also, make sure you all follow the Renrenspeaks Instagram page for updates on all of the great things Renrenspeaks.com has in store for you all! Stay Black, friends!

Peace and love,

Irene

Posted on in Black Is Beautiful series, race and ethnicity

Black is Beautiful Mini Blog Series Health Care Edition Part 1: Meet VICTORIA, MPH!

Hello, Renrenspeakers! Happy first week of melanin month! I hope yall are as hype as I am to begin the Black is Beautiful mini blog series – health care edition! The first person starting us off for the series is my sis, VICKY! I am going to brag a bit about her before we get into her interview.

I met Vicky in 2015 when I was a little baby freshman at UC San Diego. She was a senior in college, and we were involved in multiple Black organizations such as The Black Student Union and the African Student Association. I always admired her joy, her friendliness, and her ability to make everyone feel included and heard. She would check in with me and ask how I was doing and how she could support me during a rough transition to the university. She went on to do amazing things and overcame so many challenges still smiling and hopeful. So today, I am so thrilled to highlight the lovely Vicky!

Irene: What is your name/pronouns?

Vicky: Victoria Gichohi (She/Her/Hers)

Irene: Give us a quick synopsis of who YOU ARE! 

Yes, I’m the Community Engagement Manager for Rocket Doctor & Co-Founder of Black Girls Leadership Academy (BGLA). I’m from Compton, California born, raised & still a current resident. I’m passionate about finding resources to make people’s lives more sustainable and providing efficient health access to all populations.

Irene: Choose three words that come to mind when you define “Blackness”. Define each word in its relation to Blackness. Why did you choose these three words?

Vicky: Multi-faceted. Resilience. Innovative 

Multi-faceted – Black folks, (Black, African, Caribbean, the entire diaspora) we all have come from Mother Africa for sure. Yet, we have beautiful shades of our complexion. We speak over 100 languages and even more dialects. We are represented in many fields. So to hear statements like, “Oh all Black people do this or that” is really out of pocket because although we may have similar experiences and upbringings, we still are very much complex. And I believe there is beauty in that too. Your Black experience has been different than mine and I can acknowledge, respect, learn, and embrace it too! 

Resilience due to the fact that no matter what has been thrown our way, we come from generations and generations and still have the strength to continue on, which leads to my last word, Innovative. In spite of all the racist tactics and limited resources, we are innovators and pioneers. The majority of the tools and systems we have are due to the mind and imagination of a Black individual and oftentimes we don’t know it, myself included. From STEM to dance, we are truly global innovators!

Irene: What is the MOST beautiful thing about being Black to you?

Vicky: Lol it’s so many things. Our hair, our skin, our swag or juice. We are truly remarkable within our diaspora. Our strength. Our sense of community. Like us Black folks just got a little light and spark within us that I hope we individually do not lose it.

Irene: How has your experience been as a Black person in your respective field thus far? 

Vicky: My experience being a Black person has been pretty positive. I haven’t been taken advantage of or felt disrespected. However, I think because of my experience in management, at times, I am disregarded. I have taken sub-comments very seriously i.e. “Oh don’t you have an MPH?” and/or taken for granted in terms of salary because of my MPH. Black women in my field are growing more and more. I believe the pandemic sheds so much light on the hard labor Black women have and are constantly doing for this country (Medical Assistants, Doulas, Physicians, Receptionists, etc…) We are on the front lines and deserve and demand respect at all costs.

Irene: How do you plan on showing up for the people as a Black person in your respective field? 

Vicky: Representation is so key! How are we ever going to create an equitable society if we aren’t seeking the positions? If we aren’t at the table then who will be? Who will continue to advocate for our communities like Mari Copeny aka  “Little Miss Flint”  or Kizzmekia Corbett, the Black woman behind the COVID-19 vaccine? We are leaders, cultivators, and changemakers, grant writers, fundraisers, and rarely get recognition for it.

As for me, I will continuously urge our generation to combat and create equitable measures for all populations that they serve and invite communities to the table on how to make a more sustainable community. With my org, BGLA, we are creating this through mentorship being led by another Black professional and allowing mentees to focus on leadership development in improving disparities that already exist in their respective communities.

Also, I hope to start a clinic back home in my father’s home country of Kenya, specifically Nakuru, and be able to provide access to families that rarely receive the care they need.

Irene: Any advice, gems, or words of encouragement for future Black people who want to pursue your field? 

Vicky: The field is growing tremendously! If you have empathy and care about health and providing help to others, this is the field for you. Unlike typical clinical healthcare, you can go into so many areas. You can go into policy, epidemiology, get hands-on experience as a doula, nutritionist, navigator for patients, counselor, investigator, researcher, communications, social media and more. This field is truly a place where you can grow and combine any passion you are gifted with into your work.

Also, NETWORK and be able to be a community advocate. You have to learn how to talk to many people from all walks of life, even having small conversations in other languages. Be consistent and honest. Community Members will not engage if you are not transparent and consistent. They don’t want to see you just for one time and you dip and leave their city or neighborhood. You have to have empathy and be of service to them while also including them in the conversation. Go on the ground. Volunteer. Do the work necessary in order to build and grow.

Irene: What is one of your favorite songs that fit/exemplifies that Black is Beautiful?

Vicky: Wow, great question! There are so many to choose from. If I have to take it back it, would be Lovely Day by Bill Withers, and if I had to speed it up, currently it would be Alright by Kendrick Lamar, Solange’s Almeda and of course Beyonce’s Brown Skin Girl. In my opinion, all four of these songs celebrate Black beauty, Black love in all its forms, and motivate us. In a world where we are scrutinized and taunted, we have to have platforms and songs to remind us of the gems we are, how much we contribute to the world, and that we matter! We really do and I love these songs as anthems! 

Irene: How can we support a fellow amazing Black person like yourself? Do you have any projects, businesses, creations, etc. that you are working on that you would like to speak briefly about and/or that we can support?

Vicky: Be sure to check out Black Girls Leadership academy at www.blackgirlslead.org and also on all social media platforms @BlackGirlsLeadershipAcademy

Irene: Can folks connect with you to learn more about you/support you? If so, please drop your social media info down below!

Vicky: Yes no problem you can follow me on social media at @shhvictoria or message me on LinkedIn @Victoria Gichohi

Irene: Anything else you want us to know about you or anything you want to share with the readers? Feel free to drop it down below!

Vicky: I appreciate all the amazing work and efforts you are doing Irene in showcasing and highlighting incredible Black Women in our field and work!

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Wow, I hope that you all are as inspired and refreshed as I am after reading about Vicky’s journey and all of the gems she dropped today. It is amazing to see a fellow Black woman breaking grounds in the field of public health. I will say, BGLA is such a beautiful organization that I was able to recently be a part of at the ELEVATE Summit that they hosted late January. If you are reading this and are a Black girl interested in leadership development or professional growth, I highly recommend getting involved! Also, Almeda is a forever anthem, I totally agree!

Thanks for tuning into the blog, Renrenspeakers! Keep that alert button on and stay plugged in on the Renrenspeaks Instagram page for the next post dropping next Saturday for Part 2 of my Black is Beautiful mini blog series – health care edition! Stay unapologetically Black, my Black readers!

Peace and love,

Irene

Posted on in Black Is Beautiful series, race and ethnicity

Black Is Beautiful Mini Blog Series – Health Care Edition COMING UP!

Hello, Renrenspeakers! I hope everyone is doing beautifully thus far! HAPPY BLACK HISTORY MONTH! Again, every day should be a celebration of Blackness because Black is always beautiful even if the world tries to tell us otherwise. We are BACK with the popular Black is Beautiful mini blog series! Black is Beautiful is a mini blog series that I started last year highlighting some of the stories, journey, and accomplishments of Black individuals who continuously inspire me and the greater community. This time around, the Black is Beautiful mini blog series will be health care edition! I have a very exciting platform of Black interviewees in various health professions that I am so blessed to be acquainted with and to see flourish into influential individuals. 

SO, stay tuned! Every Saturday in February, I will be showcasing a new person on my blog! They will be sharing why their Black is beautiful, how they have navigated their journey in health care as a Black person, and gems and projects they are currently working on or have accomplished. Show your support by reading about their stories and connecting with them! 

The first post will be going live on Saturday, February 4th! So SUBSCRIBE to the blog so you don’t miss a notification! I am so pumped to showcase these blog interviews with you all this month! The line up is FIRE!

I hope that this mini blog series is an opportunity to connect with Black people in health care who are passionate about their communities and are making a change in the world. More importantly, I hope that you glean from this series that Black people are so diverse, successful, ambitious, and joyful. We deserve to be celebrated in a positive light. 

Again, Happy Black History Month! Support Black-owned businesses, buy us some lunch or a drink, send us some money, and show us agape love! 

ALSO, new announcement alert! Renrenspeaks is on Instagram now as @renrenspeaks, so follow me there to get the latest updates and show some support!

Peace and love,

Irene 

Note: image was retrieved from here