We were lucky to catch up with Aisha Raison recently and have shared our conversation below.
Aisha, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
I’ve had a camera in my hand since I was 3 years old. My father introduced it in my life during the Christmas of 1975, telling me that through that lens was how the world was truly seen. I have used that concept in my work, whether it be through films, photography, or in my news reals. There have been moments where I have just stared in My camera, not wanting to touch it or even deal with some of the infractions that come along with it, but it’s one of the few things that has never let me down. Even as I try to run away from the idea of being a photographer or a filmmaker, it always seemed to find its way back to me. I learned that my purpose is to show the world the things that we constantly ignore… Whether it be finding the beauty in the sadness or answering the who, what, where, and how an incident happened.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I have been a filmmaker since 2012, yet didn’t take it seriously until 2016, a year after my father passed away. I had always been a photographer, but fell in love with it more when I traveled to Ghana and found the beauty and Glory through a limbs. I’ve been a writer since 1997, working as a slam poet, then later becoming an essayist. I recently graduated from the University of Memphis as an interdisciplinary study student, and is currently working on a book of essays on Black girlhood through The eyes of a Generation Xr.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Keeping my eyes and ears open, never falling into groupthink, and staying grounded. Since the covid quarantine, I found myself away from social media and into a book, constantly reading and staying alert of skills that I had put to the side. As technology become larger than life, people lose a little bit of their humanity. We’re constantly watching the latest trends, warning people to pay attention to things that are temporary joys. But there is something about being able to live in the now without everyone knowing what you’re doing and how you’re doing it that makes life a little more worthwhile. I’m aware of the news of the day due to the fact that it’s an occupational hazard, but I’ve also learned to take time to embrace what is here and present. I guess you could say I’ve learned to stop and smell the roses again.
Looking back over the past 12 months or so, what do you think has been your biggest area of improvement or growth?
My biggest growth has been graduating from the University of Memphis. I want to college for one year when I was 18, but because of my insecurity and simply because I wasn’t ready, I had moments with the idea of going back to college was there, but I was nowhere near ready. It took a moment – 4 months of solitude in Midtown Memphis – for me to find out how much I loved reading, writing, and learning. If it were up to me, I would still be in college, pursuing my masters and my PhD. But a girl needs a break!
Contact Info:
- Website: Aisharaison.com
- Instagram: @aisharaison
- Facebook: @aisharaison
- Linkedin: @aisharaison
- Twitter: @aisharaison
- Youtube: @aisharaison
- SoundCloud: @aisharaison
