Khadijat A. Oluwatoyin shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Khadijat A. , really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
I start each day with prayer. Then I make my bed, enjoy a cup of coffee or matcha, and brush my teeth. Finally, I head to the gym. If it is Saturday, I water my plants before I workout.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
When I first spoke to CanvasRebel I shared about how I created the non-profit Sober Black Girls Club from personal experiences. While in recovery, I rediscovered my childhood aspirations of filmmaking. From writing poems in my childhood bedroom to litigating in the courtroom (I am a licensed attorney), my passion for storytelling has always been an integral part of my life. With a sense of humor, I create films that reconcile what we see on screen with lived experience, ancestral wisdom, and ethereal potential.
988 is the title of my first film. The short spotlights the suicide and crisis lifeline and explores how three residents interact with a neighbor recently diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. My second film, Living With Scraped Knees, defends the risks we take when we choose to live in community. I am currently working on my third film, Tierra and Her Egungun; a dramedy that explores the intimate ways we stay connected with those who came before us.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
I took the LSAT in 2013 but didn’t get the score I needed to get into my first choice law school (aka the school that my then boyfriend attended). I studied heavily the following year, received a higher score and got in! And while me and the boy are no longer together, it was proof for me that I can make up life anyway I like.
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
I graduated from law school in 2017 with my first legal job and a new home and car, yet I was extremely depressed. I used alcohol to cope. When I decided to get sober around 2019 I knew it would take more than abstinence to truly recover. I had to identify the parts of my life that made me unhappy and use those pain points to build a life I no longer wanted to escape from.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
I believe deeply in restorative justice, a set of principles and proactive and reactive practices that focus on preventing conflict, building relationships, and repairing harm. Restorative justice can help us live in a world where most, if not all, of our needs are met and we are all able to self-actualize.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
On a scale from one to ten, the level to which I care about what other people think about me is currently at three. If I had 10 years to live, it would be at zero.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.khadijatoluwatoyin.com/
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/forkhadijat
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/koluwatoyin
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/forkhadijat
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@acosfilm?si=x4BJm0QWGUCTTfpH
- Other: Campaign for upcoming short film: https://igg.me/at/TierraandherEgungun/x/38769349#/
Image Credits
Khadijat A. Oluwatoyin
Michael Moffitt
Queen Rose Art House
Tulsa Creative Engine
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