Welcome to B&BITM
Welcome to Black & Brown In The Middle (AKA BNBITM, B&BITM, etc.)! You’re here!! What a trip! There are so many other things that you could be doing with your time, and you chose to come here and read my words. That is WILD, and I am so grateful. Thank you!!
Starting something like Black & Brown ITM has been a secret dream of mine for so long, and I can’t believe I’m actually doing it. Full disclosure, to not be great or excellent at something can be a paralyzing fear and vulnerability for me, so to be here sharing something so raw and new to me with you has taken years of growth, healing, and learning (plus a lot of therapy, tbh). It is a privilege that I do not take for granted, and I am hopeful that I will be able to use this platform as a catalyst for supporting others in their creative pursuits, ultimately helping them to learn, grow, and heal too.
What is, it even?
I hope that Black & Brown ITM will grow into a media platform that showcases the diverse creations, stories, and lifestyles of Black, Brown, and Indigenous peoples and our cultures. I dream of television shows and movies, music and concerts, art shows and workshops, and all things creative being born on this platform. Today, I am beginning by developing a collection of audiovisual stories from people who have been navigating life in predominantly white spaces, between multiple cultures or ethnicities, or even intersecting marginalized identities and communities.
Why is, it even?
If you’ve made it here, then you probably already at least know that representation matters on some level, and you might understand the importance of hearing the stories of cultures that differ from your own. What I have seen, however, is the mainstream’s almost monolithic portrayal of Black, Brown, and Indigenous personhood and experience. At best, you might see two opposing versions of each culture (very rich vs very poor, gangbanger vs educated sellout, savage vs civilized, to name a few). You rarely see the diverse reality of our lifestyles, personalities, and circumstances or even the nuances of just living right in the middle of these extremes. I want to add everything that exists in the middle to the creative lexicon so that we can all be seen, felt, and celebrated for who we are - just as we are.
I hope that you will connect with each of the souls that share their stories here, and that from that connection you will be inspired to grow in tolerance and love, then connect more intentionally within (and outside) your own communities. Until next time - be well!