THE CREATIVE GRIP THAT HAS ME.
This year has brought a lot in the way of considering and reconsidering the identity I operate with as a Black Man—an African American Man. An African American Man.African American Father and Husband. Artist, Designer and Photographer. Entrepreneur and employee. All of this in this modern time where there seems to be a blatant assault on Black and African American progress, potential and prosperity.
In this day, choosing to build and act in joy and peace in efforts for a whole life—a creative life—seems to be a daunting pursuit in an unraveling world. It is not however denial, it’s refusal. It’s a refusal to being discarded, diminished or depreciated. It is a protest—a profound protest.
While the approach takes nuance, care and careful analysis and consideration, one of the things that are important to understand is that a Black Man’s joy, rest, peace and stability are not weaknesses. They are in fact the very things—among the specific things—that many in the world want least for you to have an hold onto.
The choice to act and build—to act in the effort of building—are in themselves powerful things that many would and do not want a Black Man to do or choose. Just the awareness of the priorities and options—recognizing the value and opportunity of building as a positive act goes against the interests, intentions and agendas of others. To purposefully choose to act in joy, to purposefully choose to get rest, to purposefully choose to act in care and softness within this hardened world is by no means a weakness in you or about you.
Joy over pain is not a weakness nor is it foolish. It is a powerful things to resist becoming a lesser version of yourself and who you have the ongoing potential to becoming. Many don’t want to see you happy because happiness encourages and empowers…especially those around you. Joy as it has been proven to us throughout history is a powerful form of resistance.
Your rest is not a weakness nor is it soft but more a necessity. Yes, necessity because you must have rest in order to keep going. Rest if nothing else is a thing they don’t want you to have because in rest you are reclaiming your power. Many would prefer to keep this out of your reach but it is yours to have because you were meant to do great things. Rest is another powerful form of resistance.
To act with care, consideration and softness is akin to speaking in truth and listening with patience and an intent to understand. Where the loudest, boldest and most brash in a room may serve a purpose, so does he who speaks quietly and calmly yet clearly and specifically. To consider others is not a weakness. To respect others is not a weakness. To smile and acknowledge others is not a weakness. To walk and talk with patience and peace are not weaknesses. They are all forms of power…and therefore resistance.
In this day within all of the many hats I wear, I’m encouraged to continue—to choose to continue—the process of resisting and staying empowered. I must do these things to encourage and empower others. My form of resistance and empowerment reside within fueling and staying within creativity. Creativity has me because it is who I am. Creativity is who I continue to aspire to be—it’s what I endeavor to embody. Creativity is that which can create better worlds.
—Liam Ian Black
CONNECTED: THE CREATIVE GRIP THAT HAS ME.
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