PHASING OUT ON THE REAL ISSUES OF BLACK LIVES MATTER

It’s been several weeks; slow progress, and fleeting attention but it looks like it’s back to business as usual. In its peak, it seemed there was some solidarity in pushing the movement of Black Lives Matter. Companies and Brands rushed to post their black squares “for the aesthetic” which to me felt just to alleviate from the backlash if they had not taken a stand. Several statements went out but it started to feel like a PR response. Now we are a month in, the media has quickly shifted its focus as if the protests stopped happening, or as if the issues had been solved, or as if the drop in rioting and looting that took focus away from the peaceful protest made it difficult to just talk about the peaceful protest.

Paint the streets with art saying ‘Black Lives Matter’ and that should do it. Name a few streets ‘Black Lives Matter’ and that should also do it. Dress in Black Culture and that should do it. Organize your company to focus on the few Black employees and that should do it. What about… put Black Music first in your streaming services or movies with Black Issues first and that should do it. Let’s skip over arresting the police officers who murdered Breonna Taylor and so many others. Lets also skip over changing anything. Instead let’s distract with this performative act, hoping they won’t notice.

What else haven’t we noticed? Donations and petitions in the name of Black Lives Matter, where have they gone? How much have they helped? How much has been used for the issues we as a community has been facing? …

Let’s not forget, there’s still a pandemic going on - well two but Covid-19 hasn’t disappeared unless there’s something we’re not being told. Suddenly it’s back to business and a rush to Phase 4. What’s the rush? Are we in a hurry for the business aspect of things? Of course, we can’t keep the economy falling so let’s ignore all the social distancing and get back to opening everything. As we move towards reopening, it seems Phase 4 is just phasing out the real issues and returning to normal. But that norm as forever changed and we cannot go back to what was before. Like Post 9/11, airport security as forever changed; as for Covid-19, the way we live has forever changed. Adding the awareness of the systemic racism that is ingrained in America; we can no longer ignore what this country has been built on and move forward, neglecting the people who have been effected the most. Are we going to let media and elected officials quietly sweep this back under the rug so we can be “great” again?

Breonna’s Law has been passed which bans “No-Knock” warrants and now sets procedures for executing all search warrants. One officer has been fired but no arrests have been made and we are going on 100+ days since the murder. With cameras and under public scrutiny, nothing has slowed down more cases of police misconduct and brutality. Protests continue for Defunding The Police, with the media misinterpreting it as removing the police forces instead of what it actually means - which is to redistribute the funds into other areas that need it.

VOGUE CHALLENGE BUT MAKE IT ELUSIVE

BEYONCÊ IN SEPT 2018 VOGUE REDESIGNED AS AN ELSVMAG COVER. PHOTO BY TYLER MITCHELL

RIHANNA IN NOV 2018 VOGUE ARABIA REDESIGNED AS AN ELSVMAG COVER. PHOTO BY GREG KADAL.

Following what seems to be a trend of brands and companies feeding into the Black Lives Matter movement, particularly making note their lack of inclusion or diversity or even using this time to “seem aware of the issues” that as a whole can exclude Black creatives.

With Anna Wintour - Artistic Director of Conde Nast & Editor-In-Chief of Vogue Magazine; commenting on the discriminatory culture and taking "full responsibility" for not hiring enough Black creatives while acknowledging the hurt and pain Vogue employees of color must be feeling during this time, the response seemed to fuel that it wasn’t enough. With overseeing Vogue; some feels she could’ve done more and to simply say “Vogue has not found enough ways to elevate and give space to Black editors, writers, photographers, designers and other creators” lends itself to the discriminatory culture and systemic racism that has been engrained in America.

Now enters the #VogueChallenge, a trend where Black and POC lend their talents to creating their own Vogue color; speaking to the lack of brown models of color gracing the cover.

How hard is it really to add diverse creatives behind the scenes and on the covers? With this - and as a creator; I have two takeaways - the creator creating to be showcased and accepted within a publication that blindly excludes until its trendy and the power that diverse creators have (somewhat disconnect and widespread) but together can push its own brand and publication that uplifts and recognizes the talent held, giving creatives opportunities to take chances, giving creatives space and the freedom to create for themselves and not to fit in to these spaces that were built to exclude.

Enter ELSV, created out of being excluded from a number of spaces and even at times to showcase that I can produce at a level such as Vogue, GQ, T Magazine, WSJ Magazine etc. Once the building began, the experience of creating just to create and for yourself took over. Its something about working with creatives with the same mindset, that wants to create just to create, removing the stipulation of trying to fit into some box for the sake of checking a box of inclusion so brands can say well we have one or we had models of color and so on. Even with the challenges of being an independent publication, there isn’t anything like having a safe space of your own. So with rebranding, taking risks and never giving up, ELSV still remains a project hard to let go especially in all of its elusiveness.

CIARA IN FAULT ISSUE 31 REDESIGNED FOR ELSVMAG. PHOTO BY IRVIN RIVERA.

ELIJAH BLAKE MOCK ELSV COVER

OUR BLACK YOUTH IS WATCHING

Its been completely disheartening seeing a new generation having to grow up and see this. Its been disheartening that years of systemic racism hasn’t been address and here we are in 2020, still having to address this. We are still having to explain this. We are still trying to have our voice heard.

What do you say to a child who has to see images of black brothers, black uncles, black Fathers, black sisters, black aunts, black mothers being treated in such ways? When they are in situations when they’re relatives are being mistreated, met with unreasonable force by police at a traffic stop or even a witness to a wrongful death… what do you say? How are they supposed to grow in a society that basically tells them that because of the color of your skin, you will be treated differently?

This is something they shouldn’t have to face and at the same time it’s something no black person should have to face. Black people should be able to drive a certain car and not be pulled over because “it’s being checked to see if it’s stolen” or “it’s too nice of a car for them.” Black people should be able To live or even walk in a neighborhood and not be questioned why they are there. Black people should be able to be placed in a box as if they can’t obtain a specific level of education or go to a specific University or work at a specific level or even work at a certain organization. The list can go on. When do we address this? When do we not have to raise our voice to be heard? When will the day come for it to be normal for us to just have the rights that all humans deserve?

REMBERING LEFTEYE

TLC is the first artist I remember hearing ever. 1992 - BABY BABY BABY - So ANYTHING TLC hits different. Especially LeftEye.

Bittersweet. Will Never NOT rep TLC and think about how it would be if she was still here.

AM I NEXT? - #BLACKLIVESMATTER

“This specific ontology of subjectivity, which defines the entire human experience as a result of brain chemistry, is a singular, restrictive and reductive understanding of all the ways in which humans and their subjectivity can be understood. This reduction serves a specific political function. That is, it keeps those who are oppressed inward looking and forecloses knowledge of the dominant class as they exert enough force to contribute to extensive suffering and mental illness in the oppressed.” 

- Dr. Eric Greene; The Mental Health Industrial Complex: A Study in Three Cases.  Journal of Humanistic Psychology

Is it considered revisiting when it’s a constant reoccurring cycle? - This quote & picture was the start of a collective of events, ideas, programs at work revolving around Black Mental Health. Looking back at it now, I’m reminded, not just of this particular topic but how its translated over time and is still relevant. We STILL must protect our mental health. We STILL have to wonder and question so many things; even in a pandemic - which in itself has vastly effected a majority of minorities and those in Black and Brown Communities.

Here we are. Another police shooting or assault or misconduct. I’ve lost count. I don’t know what we’re calling it anymore. I’m tired. We talked about it then. We talked it last week. We’re talking about it now.

George Floyd

Kenneth Walker

Breona Taylor

Sean Reed

Ahmaud Arbery

Steve Taylor

It hasn’t stopped. This list continues to grow. And its not even including what hasn’t received media attention. But when will the list be long enough. For action. For change. or will we talk again next week?

Workplace Transparency

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On the heels of being fired from America's Got Talent, Gabrielle Union spoke about the need for transparency. Recalling her 2013 Black Women in Hollywood Luncheon speech — that she says changed everything for her. Union said, “I led in that room with the absolute truth and it freed me in a way that I have never been freed before.”  Her exit from America's Got Talent, allegedly stemmed from Union reporting on the Toxic Culture behind the scenes.   

"I speak differently. I take my life much more seriously. I take this time [speaking] with the microphone seriously. And I have to tell the truth. In my truth, it freed other people." Gabrielle Union speaks about not always being supportive of others success and not wanting to use her time in the spotlight to "cover us all." Never thinking that speaking the truth can be a catalyst for change. "The truth and transparency can lead to more." 

Opening up a dialogue and a safe space to speak truth and be transparent in the workplace can help change the culture. There are many issues that employees may face – from feeling discriminated against to feeling that they can't speak on situations in fear of the repercussions. Even when it comes to job opportunities, employees can feel discriminated against during the recruitment process.  

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The routine exclusion of people of color in the workplace isn't okay if we accept the fact that as long as they are recruited, we've accomplished Diversity and Inclusion. There is a need for those to use their position or platform to "cover us all," — meaning, those in a position should use their voice or platform to push for change and not be motivated by self promotion. How can we get to a place where we don't stand idly by and accept workplace discrimination or an environment that doesn't uphold a standard for a better workplace? What will be the catalyst for change?

"I was quiet when I should have spoken up. I turned a blind eye to injustice instead of having the courage to stand up for what's right." 

- Gabrielle Union 
(2013 Black Women in Hollywood Luncheon) 

Reframing The Narrative of The Black Experience

Echoes of the notion can constantly play when thinking of the Black experience in the workplace, in education or in everyday life. Sort of a reminder to one's self to mentally prepare for recurring situations in the real world.

In order to succeed, you need to be twice as good, twice as smart, twice as dependable, twice as talented... 

How can we restructure a system and change preconceived notions that  overshadow who we are and the talent we possess in the workplace?

BLACK MENTAL HEALTH & RACIAL TRAUMA

Race-related trauma could include the traumatic experiences, emotionally, psychologically, physically that manifest as the result of experiencing one or multiple events. Sometimes trauma is widely categorized as occurring from natural disasters, sexual abuse, or car accidents, but we don't think about race-related trauma as a part of that. It's important to include that in our understanding of trauma and how it can effect marginalized communities and African-Americans. 

 "If there's no name for a problem, you can't see a problem. And if you can't see a problem you can't solve it. And sometimes we don't name these traumas as racial traumas that black and African-Americans are experiencing." Kimberle Crenshaw

Police interaction with the black community can also play a role in the trauma faced by black people. Just the appearance of a police officer can raise the levels of fear that a black person may feel in a given situation. Being stopped and questioned by a police officer, often creates, brings out, or changes the way black people will act and have them questioning every move they make in the presence of an officer, in order to reduce escalating a situation or to get out of the feeling of being in danger. 

The handling of black people in many cases have been detrimental to the black community and police relations and can also contribute to the trauma that affects black mental health. Looking at the Eric Garner case and even Sandra Bland; it can attribute to the mishandling of black people in or around police custody. Police must be held accountable for their actions and have the proper training when it comes to the black community. Incidences have highlighted the potentially harmful effects of police practices based on racial profiling procedures toward minorities, especially Black men. Police abuse can be associated with distress, depression, anxiety, and trauma symptoms that is faced by the black community.

Black Artists fight mental health stigma with their work

South London-based digital artist Kirsty Latoya is using her work to unpack the complexities of mental health. To create her art, the 25-year-old uses her finger as a stylus to draw on an iPad — a technique that creates compelling, contemporary work. 

Tsoku Maela — a photographer from Cape Town, South Africa — has been extensively recognized for his work documenting what it's like to live with mental illness through complex imagery. His recent photographic series, titled  Abstract Peaces , documents Maela's own experience with depression.