Meet Benjamin Faye

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Benjamin Faye. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Benjamin below.

Benjamin , so good to have you with us today. We’ve got so much planned, so let’s jump right into it. We live in such a diverse world, and in many ways the world is getting better and more understanding but it’s far from perfect. There are so many times where folks find themselves in rooms or situations where they are the only ones that look like them – that might mean being the only woman of color in the room or the only person who grew up in a certain environment etc. Can you talk to us about how you’ve managed to thrive even in situations where you were the only one in the room?

The key to being effective when you are the only one in the room who looks like you is understanding your audience, but never at the expense of yourself.

The thing about being Black, neurodivergent, and having long hair is that there aren’t many ways I can hide. As a younger man, it helped to be able to mask (the act of concealing or suppressing neurodivergent traits and behaviors in order to fit in with societal norms and expectations and avoid discrimination). But as I got older, I began to notice that I left rooms with the feeling that no one really met me. They met a version of me I thought would be the most palatable, and to great extent, I was right. But it was exhausting and unfair to me. From that moment on, I began examining all the ways in which I’d been masking and undertook the work of undoing each one. It’s a work in progress, but it’s necessary.

There’s a point at which not being fully myself for fear of ableism only further enables the ableism. It says to the world that it’s okay that I have to play small, and it isn’t. I now show up in every room as my fullest self, and it’s made all the difference.

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 am a writer, a former educator, a live and studio musician, public speaker, and content creator. I’ve been making content primarily on Instagram for the better part of the last six years.

I discuss a number of topics on my Instagram account including social justice, religious deconstruction, adoption & politics, but I also do deep dives into pop culture and music with two Instagram series. The first is called 90 Minutes I’m Never Getting Back, where I watch a movie I’ve never seen before and react in real time. The other is called Sneaky Good Years in Music, where I examine the ins and outs of a year in music that is under discussed for its impact on the art form.

Away from Instagram, I’ve recently become a co-host for the White Homework podcast with Tori Williams Douglass. I mix the audio for that podcast now as well, and it’s available wherever you listen to podcasts.

In addition to these things, I am a freelancer at the moment who is available for writing jobs, speaking engagements, recording sessions, and more.

I love that I have a platform that isn’t overly reliant on one topic or one particular focus, The ability to hold heavy and light is what makes my existence in the content creator space more interesting.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

The three skills that have made me most successful have been:

1) Always being a student
2) Meeting every moment with grace
3) Always, always leading with kindness.

And for those growing in these things, start with self. One of the hardest things to do is to give yourself grace and practice self-kindness. But what you will find as you undo the things that make it hard to do is that you will meet the truest version of yourself and get to love them. And as you do, you’ll see what it is to love other people well. It’s always inside flowing out.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

As a current freelancer in addition to my work on Instagram and White Homework, I want to collaborate with creative and hopeful people. I want to work on projects with people who see the world as I do. People who have imagination for a better world and are working to cultivate what it requires in real time.

This includes writing projects, filming, music, etc. I was made to be creative. I was made to paint things in the mind and onto air, and I want to be involved with people who desire the same.

The best ways to connect with me is to find me on my Instagram @heytherebenji or to email me at [email protected]. Let’s start a conversation about collaboration and if what I bring to the table matches what you’re looking for.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: heytherebenji
• Other: On Bluesky: benjaminmfaye.bluesky.social

  The White Homework Podcast can be found on all streaming platforms, and the White Homework Patreon can be found at www.whitehomework.com