Meet Faith Lewis

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

Faith , 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?

First, you have to accept that you’re the only one. The only Black person, the only Black Woman, and the only Black Queer Woman. You have to accept your identities first. We cannot count on institutions and social dynamics that feed on domination to accept us. That access has only be gained through the sacrifices and efforts of those who have come before us, or stood beside us in oppression and decided “No Longer.” Diversity is natural. Flowers, trees, bees, and rivers, all exist differently and look differently, yet they all have a place in the circle of Life. You are inherently a reflection of this belonging. Dandelions still grow in the cracks of the concrete. They’re said to be a weed, so they’re picked, pulled apart, and murdered with pesticide. But dandelions are a medicine for the heart, and yellow is the color of joy. Be a dandelion, have heart.

Second, know your shit. I have been in rooms where the way I look, think, dress, and express is criticized and devalued. My advice is to make a plan. Know your values. Know your boundaries. Know the skills that will help you communicate and remain organized when your knees shake in the face of an opponent. Write a list of talking points, study the history of why and how, affirm yourself between the negative thoughts. You have something you’re good at, you have to study yourself, when you make it about everyone else and their definitions of you, you have ceased to exist.

I’ve learned to be effective and successful when I am the only Me by accepting myself, detaching from controlling other’s perceptions, and learning about myself as an extension of the world. I am always the only me, and I am a gateway for more Me. “I feel nervous submitting this, what if it’s not good enough?” my fear whispers. “But it’s what I have, and it what they’re getting,” responds my defiance.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

1. Exploration – I have been blessed to travel throughout my life. In 2017, I went to Uganda and in 2019, I went to China to study abroad. This cultural engagement taught me about the interconnected of people beyond what I was familiar with in the States. I appreciated the cultures and people. I came back to the West each time, and developed a deeper understanding of personhood and the complexities of our personal and interpersonal dynamics. I enjoy art, poetry, television, music, food, and fashion in many forms. I do not separate it from its roots. I remain open-minded and appreciative of the wisdom of other people, while still analyzing the roots. In turn, I explore my own roots, asks questions about the world around me, and allow my curiosity to influence my art. I

2. Grief – My grandmother passed in 2020 due to a hear attack. Her sudden, unexpected death left me numb. Art is where I began to explore myself outside myself. The many themes, questions, and feelings that held space in my head unacknowledged or suppressed became a medium that I could engage with in the physical. Art became known to me as a personal interest and a therapeutic model accessible in a personal and communal format. I learned about ancestral veneration, delved further in the halls on Black history, and listened to myself.

3. Detach – Allow you art to be a self-directed process. I’ve started with a sketch and ended up with something entirely different by the end of the creative process. I’d make a mistake, smack my teeth, and wonder, “How can use my mind and the materials around me to make this wonder. Other times, I just go with the flow, and after the brief moment of panic I find I like the new version better.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

I’d love to collaborate on a photography project. I’ve been increasingly more interested in film-making. I have to learn starting at the basics, but I find the camera as an excellent way to develop narrative. I’ve enjoy seeing the Black aesthetic evolve on screen in horror, fantasy, and documentary projects. I also have studied photography as a method in research during my public health studies. I have been wanting to collaborate to develop a study on death work, social justice, Black spiritual and traditional practices, mental health, and environmental justice, but I remain open to other opportunities. Otherwise, I’ve been wanting to start a podcast or a zine.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @isitrevolutionn
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/faith-lewis-058271179/