Feature Friday w/ Honesty Taszhé
What is the role of the artist in social and racial justice activism work?
Nina Simone once said "An artists duty is to reflect the times." I personally believe as artists we have a responsibility to authentically represent the world we live in. Allowing our passion for the movements and the people to be the fueling fire to keep creating and keep progressing forward. To think if it wasn’t for the photos of Gordon Parks how would we know the sensitive and wise side to Muhammad Ali's athleticism? If it wasn't for the stories of Spike Lee in Do The Right Thing how would filmmakers know the desire to talk about brutality was necessary?
How does your own racial identity influence how and what you create?
I simply represent my community. I am a black women and I embrace that part of my identity in all my body of works. My community deserves to seem themselves in the most beautiful, raw, and poignant ways.
Please speak to the importance of Black history in your life as an artist in the 21st century
Black history is why i exist in many rooms to this day. Black history is why I am conscious of the world I live in juxtaposition to my black skin. I am motivated by the teachings Malcolm X, the poetry Audre Lorde, and the storytelling of Oscar Micheaux. If it wasn't for these individuals and more I wouldn't identity as a storyteller. I wouldn't have latched onto filmmaking, poetry, photography, and writing.