172 40 Years Since

While the future of TikTok remains in question, Asiyah Martin shares insight on her experience as a TikTok videographer influencer. Over the last few months, Martin's TikTok following exponentially surged once she recentered her passions and disregarded her 9 to 5 routine. While Asiyah currently uses TikTok to explore new videographer techniques, her artistic drive originates from her experience as Captain of a drill team. While Martin admits the drill team allowed her to cultivate authenticity, she confesses that TikTok transcends the racial barriers that impeded her creative drive on the drill team. Today, Asiyah and Gaby discuss the intersectionality of her creative outlets and how her presence as a woman of color was perceived differently in both fields .

We're back from a short hiatus and with us today is none other than Sabreen Ali, a self-published author, host or ‘Moms Who Art’ podcast and founder of Lyrical Plight Press. Today's episode centers around Sabreen's travels through childhood trauma to social isolation --all the ups and downs that led her to discover her identity as a writer. Sabreen and Gaby also acknowledge the lessons Sabreen's learned as a mother and what we must reprimand in our lives to perpetuate Black excellence. 

Mika Ware, originally born in Japan but now residing in California, opens up about the struggles that come with being of two ethnicities. Through her journey as an artist, she challenges American assimilation and hopes to eradicate limiting stereotypes. In today's episode, Mika and Gaby discuss the origins of cultural assimilation and how it resonates within her artistic identity. 

With the rise of the BLM movement, many wonder how schools will address racism going forward. Today, we hear from two students who attend one of Jacksonville's highly regarded institutions, Episcopal School of Jacksonville. Olivia and Taylor give insight to their racist encounters with administration and students, how they believe the school can better serve Black and Brown students, and also what changes they anticipate for the 2020-2021 school year. 

Jenae Ailia, a Sacramento-native musician, speaks on the importance of implementing diversity within the arts in today's episode. While navigating her path towards her present career, she mentions how diverse representation displays degrees of possibility for future generations. Her experience offers insight to not only the need for reform but the immense obstacles she overcame to find her creative identity.  

Elected president of HER PLACE IS IN, a creative director, featured in National Geographic --the list goes on; After working in a corporate environment and enduring the sexist and micro-aggressive culture, Michelle set out to start her own entity --HER PLACE IS IN-- as a safe place that uses art to promote social action. Michelle Singleton shares not only her successes but the adversities which led her to the road she currently walks. Throughout her journey, Singleton emphasizes the importance of listening to your inner consciousness despite the uncertainties of the outside world.