1 00:00:05,200 --> 00:00:07,920 Speaker 1: Hey, this is Annie and Samantha, and Antha's definitely never 2 00:00:07,960 --> 00:00:19,760 Speaker 1: told your protection of iHeart Radio and welcome to another 3 00:00:19,880 --> 00:00:23,479 Speaker 1: edition of a Feminist Activists around the World. And you 4 00:00:23,520 --> 00:00:25,720 Speaker 1: know what, I'm not gonna lie as per usual when 5 00:00:25,760 --> 00:00:29,400 Speaker 1: I start speaking on any episodes. It's dark. It's been 6 00:00:29,440 --> 00:00:33,279 Speaker 1: a bleak well, I guess really several years now when 7 00:00:33,320 --> 00:00:36,519 Speaker 1: it comes to what is happening in the marginalized community 8 00:00:36,600 --> 00:00:40,159 Speaker 1: in the world of politics and countries, we thought that 9 00:00:40,159 --> 00:00:43,280 Speaker 1: we're moving forward have been moving backwards at what seems 10 00:00:43,320 --> 00:00:46,240 Speaker 1: to be an alarming rate. Maybe we're just seeing it 11 00:00:46,520 --> 00:00:50,360 Speaker 1: in a fast paced way because it is bill season, 12 00:00:50,479 --> 00:00:53,480 Speaker 1: slash election stuff has happened, and I don't know why, 13 00:00:53,520 --> 00:00:55,120 Speaker 1: but it just seems like it's coming at a very 14 00:00:55,120 --> 00:00:58,279 Speaker 1: fast rate. I don't know about you. Annie. In the 15 00:00:58,400 --> 00:01:01,360 Speaker 1: US alone, there are currently one hundred and thirty anti 16 00:01:01,560 --> 00:01:04,560 Speaker 1: LGBTQ bills and at least one hundred and fifty of 17 00:01:04,600 --> 00:01:07,560 Speaker 1: those are going after the trans community. And this is 18 00:01:07,560 --> 00:01:10,760 Speaker 1: according to the ACLU and the Human Rights Campaign websites. 19 00:01:11,000 --> 00:01:13,440 Speaker 1: And again, I'm trying to get as much updated information, 20 00:01:13,480 --> 00:01:15,400 Speaker 1: but it's really hard to keep up because it is 21 00:01:15,520 --> 00:01:19,399 Speaker 1: changing daily recently, and I think this is why, I mean, 22 00:01:19,440 --> 00:01:21,760 Speaker 1: it's such a dark place. The state of Georgia passed 23 00:01:21,760 --> 00:01:25,959 Speaker 1: and signed SP one forty, which bands certain gender farming 24 00:01:26,000 --> 00:01:29,360 Speaker 1: care for minors or those who are under eighteen, with 25 00:01:29,520 --> 00:01:32,360 Speaker 1: an ad on that they would prosecute any medical professionals 26 00:01:32,400 --> 00:01:36,640 Speaker 1: who violate the band, including taking away licenses and jose 27 00:01:36,680 --> 00:01:38,399 Speaker 1: as a reminder for people who are like, but you know, 28 00:01:38,440 --> 00:01:40,880 Speaker 1: this is about kids, whatever whatnot. We're seeing what's happening 29 00:01:40,920 --> 00:01:43,039 Speaker 1: in Florida and it's not about kids. It's about the 30 00:01:43,040 --> 00:01:47,360 Speaker 1: trans community, so don't lie to yourself. And the anti 31 00:01:47,400 --> 00:01:51,360 Speaker 1: trans bill are still coming, unfortunately. But when it does 32 00:01:51,400 --> 00:01:54,280 Speaker 1: seem like it's so dark and the times are getting bleak, 33 00:01:54,600 --> 00:01:57,320 Speaker 1: there are many who are and have been doing amazing 34 00:01:57,360 --> 00:02:00,639 Speaker 1: work to advocate for the trans community all for the world. 35 00:02:00,800 --> 00:02:03,120 Speaker 1: And today we are talking about one of them, and 36 00:02:03,160 --> 00:02:07,840 Speaker 1: that is an Filled Stewart who yes, their pronouns are 37 00:02:07,960 --> 00:02:12,040 Speaker 1: she heard they them And this is according to their site, 38 00:02:12,400 --> 00:02:16,440 Speaker 1: which also describes themselves as black, queer and transfilm New 39 00:02:16,520 --> 00:02:21,080 Speaker 1: York based storyteller working at the intersection of theater and activism, 40 00:02:21,400 --> 00:02:24,239 Speaker 1: so for that purpose, because a lot of the articles 41 00:02:24,360 --> 00:02:26,799 Speaker 1: referenced them as they them, that's what we're going to 42 00:02:26,840 --> 00:02:29,320 Speaker 1: stick with. So there you go, just so you know. Yeah. 43 00:02:30,400 --> 00:02:33,600 Speaker 1: Originally from Birmingham, Alabama, they would go on to graduate 44 00:02:33,639 --> 00:02:36,919 Speaker 1: from Illinois Wesleyan University with a BFA and music theater 45 00:02:37,280 --> 00:02:39,840 Speaker 1: in twenty fifteen, and then Stuart moved to New York 46 00:02:40,240 --> 00:02:43,600 Speaker 1: where they continued in their passion for theater and performing. 47 00:02:44,480 --> 00:02:47,440 Speaker 1: They have worked in the performance industry for some time now, 48 00:02:47,560 --> 00:02:50,160 Speaker 1: and they are known for working closely with their actors 49 00:02:50,160 --> 00:02:53,720 Speaker 1: and collaborators to create an environment where everyone feels valued 50 00:02:54,120 --> 00:02:57,440 Speaker 1: and heard, as well as seeking to create works that 51 00:02:57,520 --> 00:03:00,720 Speaker 1: are actively anti racist and allow for the voices of 52 00:03:00,720 --> 00:03:05,200 Speaker 1: the oppressed to be heard. In their website, ian Field 53 00:03:05,280 --> 00:03:09,160 Speaker 1: Stewart dot com, they write their work and she are 54 00:03:09,240 --> 00:03:12,880 Speaker 1: dedicated to interrupting the exclusivity of luxury by making things 55 00:03:12,960 --> 00:03:16,480 Speaker 1: like entertainment, nourishment, and self care accessible to the most 56 00:03:16,560 --> 00:03:19,680 Speaker 1: marginalized in their community in a world that is constantly 57 00:03:19,720 --> 00:03:23,040 Speaker 1: traumatizing black bodies. She believes that black, queer and trans 58 00:03:23,080 --> 00:03:26,960 Speaker 1: people should have the space and time to center collective, emotional, physical, 59 00:03:27,280 --> 00:03:31,120 Speaker 1: and sensual pleasure. Which I love that and with their passion, 60 00:03:31,200 --> 00:03:34,200 Speaker 1: they began their work in activism and theater, taking on 61 00:03:34,240 --> 00:03:36,240 Speaker 1: their love for theater and showing it as a way 62 00:03:36,240 --> 00:03:39,000 Speaker 1: to advocate for those in the trans and black community 63 00:03:39,040 --> 00:03:42,520 Speaker 1: by organizing and curating a safe space for the black 64 00:03:42,560 --> 00:03:46,360 Speaker 1: transgender community to be valued as well as cared for. 65 00:03:47,040 --> 00:03:49,960 Speaker 1: In twenty nineteen, they along with their friend Nila Simpson, 66 00:03:50,040 --> 00:03:53,200 Speaker 1: founded the Okra Project and according to their website, the 67 00:03:53,200 --> 00:03:56,760 Speaker 1: Ogre Project is quote a mutual aid collective that seeks 68 00:03:56,800 --> 00:03:59,760 Speaker 1: to support black trans people with a goal of alleviating 69 00:04:00,280 --> 00:04:03,200 Speaker 1: years of the community faces. Throughout programming, we helped a 70 00:04:03,240 --> 00:04:07,320 Speaker 1: redistribute vital resources to our community along our service pillars 71 00:04:07,320 --> 00:04:11,240 Speaker 1: by promoting food, security, safety, and mental health support right 72 00:04:11,400 --> 00:04:14,400 Speaker 1: and in an interview with Black Women Radical, Stewart talked 73 00:04:14,400 --> 00:04:17,920 Speaker 1: about the Ochre Project and they said, the Ochre Project 74 00:04:18,000 --> 00:04:20,680 Speaker 1: actually started on my couch in December of last year. 75 00:04:20,920 --> 00:04:23,120 Speaker 1: I was in a community organizing meeting and I was 76 00:04:23,160 --> 00:04:26,360 Speaker 1: being talked over a lot by a masculine person. While 77 00:04:26,400 --> 00:04:29,560 Speaker 1: I was disengaging from the conversation, the idea for the 78 00:04:29,600 --> 00:04:32,320 Speaker 1: Ochre Project came to my mind. I turned to my 79 00:04:32,400 --> 00:04:34,960 Speaker 1: friend Nila Sampson, who was sitting on the couch with me, 80 00:04:35,040 --> 00:04:37,279 Speaker 1: and said, what do you think about hiring our friend 81 00:04:37,360 --> 00:04:41,400 Speaker 1: Molik Malik, Zadie August who is a chef and the 82 00:04:41,440 --> 00:04:45,440 Speaker 1: creator of Zaddie's Kitchen, and collaborating with Sampson's Black Trans 83 00:04:45,520 --> 00:04:48,400 Speaker 1: Solidarity Fund to go into the homes of black trans 84 00:04:48,440 --> 00:04:51,440 Speaker 1: people who may be experiencing food and security or who 85 00:04:51,480 --> 00:04:53,320 Speaker 1: are not able to go home for the holidays and 86 00:04:53,360 --> 00:04:57,000 Speaker 1: cook for them. Nila and later on Malik agreed and 87 00:04:57,200 --> 00:05:00,880 Speaker 1: were on board with the idea. On Wednesday, December nineteenth, 88 00:05:00,960 --> 00:05:03,960 Speaker 1: twenty nineteen, we launched the Ochre Project with the intention 89 00:05:04,000 --> 00:05:07,280 Speaker 1: and hope of raising one thousand dollars. We dropped it 90 00:05:07,320 --> 00:05:10,520 Speaker 1: at nine am that day. By two pm, we raised 91 00:05:10,560 --> 00:05:13,640 Speaker 1: one thousand dollars and by the evening we raised two thousand. 92 00:05:13,920 --> 00:05:17,159 Speaker 1: That Friday we raised six thousand. Since the launch, I 93 00:05:17,200 --> 00:05:20,320 Speaker 1: can comfortably say we have probably raised thirty thousand to 94 00:05:20,400 --> 00:05:24,320 Speaker 1: forty thousand dollars for our community. We also started creating 95 00:05:24,320 --> 00:05:27,440 Speaker 1: community events. The Ochre Project really has taken on a 96 00:05:27,480 --> 00:05:29,839 Speaker 1: life of its own and become something in the community 97 00:05:29,880 --> 00:05:31,960 Speaker 1: that people can lean on and rely on in the 98 00:05:32,000 --> 00:05:35,160 Speaker 1: community when they need to, and they do a lot 99 00:05:35,200 --> 00:05:37,560 Speaker 1: more and during COVID they did some amazing projects and 100 00:05:37,720 --> 00:05:40,520 Speaker 1: making sure that they were able to really assist the 101 00:05:40,520 --> 00:05:43,680 Speaker 1: black trans community, which we know are often ignored when 102 00:05:43,720 --> 00:05:46,000 Speaker 1: it comes to health crisis in general. So they do 103 00:05:46,120 --> 00:05:49,240 Speaker 1: some amazing things. And yeah, their organization is still thriving. 104 00:05:49,520 --> 00:05:52,120 Speaker 1: After Stuart stepped down from the OPRE Project. It is 105 00:05:52,160 --> 00:05:55,279 Speaker 1: now being led by Gabrielle Iez Susa, who is the 106 00:05:55,360 --> 00:05:59,520 Speaker 1: current executive director and one of Stuart's biggest platforms is 107 00:05:59,560 --> 00:06:02,520 Speaker 1: the knee for the black and trance community in politics 108 00:06:02,560 --> 00:06:05,040 Speaker 1: and in the public eye. They stated in the same 109 00:06:05,080 --> 00:06:07,599 Speaker 1: Black Women's Radical interview, I think the truth is that 110 00:06:07,640 --> 00:06:10,760 Speaker 1: black women, black films, and black non binary film people 111 00:06:11,040 --> 00:06:13,080 Speaker 1: have been at the center from the beginning. It's just 112 00:06:13,160 --> 00:06:15,800 Speaker 1: whether you see us or not, and do you recognize 113 00:06:15,839 --> 00:06:18,240 Speaker 1: us or not. To be honest, whether people do or 114 00:06:18,279 --> 00:06:20,640 Speaker 1: do not see us or recognize us, it's something I'm 115 00:06:20,680 --> 00:06:23,080 Speaker 1: not terribly tied to. I do not feel the need 116 00:06:23,120 --> 00:06:25,360 Speaker 1: to make people see what is there, because the proof 117 00:06:25,400 --> 00:06:27,120 Speaker 1: is in the pudding. You know, we've been here and 118 00:06:27,160 --> 00:06:29,919 Speaker 1: we've been doing the work forever. Is it exhausting and 119 00:06:30,000 --> 00:06:32,080 Speaker 1: frustrating that we have to put up with this and 120 00:06:32,080 --> 00:06:35,359 Speaker 1: put up with people who refuse to acknowledge us. Absolutely, 121 00:06:35,760 --> 00:06:38,840 Speaker 1: There's this really wonderful quote by Tracy Ellis Ross where 122 00:06:38,920 --> 00:06:41,679 Speaker 1: she says, I love being a whole and full woman. 123 00:06:41,960 --> 00:06:43,920 Speaker 1: I am more than my parts, and we all are, 124 00:06:44,040 --> 00:06:46,440 Speaker 1: and we all as women need to continue to change 125 00:06:46,440 --> 00:06:48,560 Speaker 1: our gaze from how we are seeing to how we 126 00:06:48,600 --> 00:06:51,720 Speaker 1: are seeing. In the future of black women's radicalism, black 127 00:06:51,720 --> 00:06:54,480 Speaker 1: women politics, and black film politics, I would like us 128 00:06:54,480 --> 00:06:57,120 Speaker 1: to shift that gaze. Rather than attempting to address how 129 00:06:57,160 --> 00:06:59,480 Speaker 1: we are seeing, we need to address how we are seeing. 130 00:07:00,040 --> 00:07:04,680 Speaker 1: And their works have been seen worldwide, with their work 131 00:07:04,720 --> 00:07:09,120 Speaker 1: featured in New York Times, Out Magazine, Vogue, Forbes, NBC. 132 00:07:09,800 --> 00:07:13,800 Speaker 1: So much more than that. They also have many accolades 133 00:07:13,880 --> 00:07:16,559 Speaker 1: under their name, including being one of the US Fellows 134 00:07:16,640 --> 00:07:19,800 Speaker 1: for Humanity Actions in twenty seventeen, John Lewis Fellowship the 135 00:07:19,840 --> 00:07:23,560 Speaker 1: twenty twenty ones Logo Legends Award, and they were honored 136 00:07:23,560 --> 00:07:27,800 Speaker 1: as the first Lucille Ortel Awards in twenty twenty two. 137 00:07:28,040 --> 00:07:30,000 Speaker 1: So a lot, so a lot, and I'm sure there's 138 00:07:30,040 --> 00:07:32,840 Speaker 1: so much more that we may not have seen and 139 00:07:32,960 --> 00:07:35,680 Speaker 1: continue to happen because they have been featured in so 140 00:07:35,720 --> 00:07:38,760 Speaker 1: many things. I believe. They also worked with Janet Mock 141 00:07:39,120 --> 00:07:42,840 Speaker 1: for Pose Yes the very famous show. So they have 142 00:07:42,960 --> 00:07:45,560 Speaker 1: continued and I think they've won some amazing accolades for 143 00:07:45,600 --> 00:07:49,240 Speaker 1: their performances directorial stuff as well. And if you go 144 00:07:49,280 --> 00:07:52,880 Speaker 1: to their website you can see clips from different shows 145 00:07:52,960 --> 00:07:56,040 Speaker 1: and I believe them performing, so they do some amazing things. 146 00:07:56,040 --> 00:07:59,360 Speaker 1: And I know they have a project in Alabama as well. 147 00:08:00,240 --> 00:08:02,800 Speaker 1: So yeah, to say that they are running and working 148 00:08:03,040 --> 00:08:08,880 Speaker 1: and advocating and fighting is to say the very least. Yes, Yes, 149 00:08:09,120 --> 00:08:12,160 Speaker 1: it's amazing work. And again I'm sure this is someone 150 00:08:12,200 --> 00:08:15,960 Speaker 1: will be checking back in on in the future. In 151 00:08:16,040 --> 00:08:19,040 Speaker 1: the meantime, as always, if there's someone that we should 152 00:08:19,080 --> 00:08:23,080 Speaker 1: be talking about in this segments, you can let us know. 153 00:08:23,120 --> 00:08:26,520 Speaker 1: You can emails at Stephania mom Stuff at iHeartMedia dot com. 154 00:08:26,600 --> 00:08:28,800 Speaker 1: You can find us on Twitter at mom Stuff Podcast, 155 00:08:29,240 --> 00:08:31,760 Speaker 1: or on Instagram and TikTok at Stuff I've Never Told You. 156 00:08:31,760 --> 00:08:34,760 Speaker 1: You can also find us on YouTube. Thanks as always too, 157 00:08:35,040 --> 00:08:38,680 Speaker 1: our super producer Christina, our executive producer Maya d Our, 158 00:08:38,720 --> 00:08:42,880 Speaker 1: contributor Joey. Thank you all, Yes, thank you, and thanks 159 00:08:42,920 --> 00:08:45,320 Speaker 1: to you for listening. Stuff I Never Told resbroduction by 160 00:08:45,400 --> 00:08:47,120 Speaker 1: Heart Radio. For more podcast for my Heart Radio, you 161 00:08:47,160 --> 00:08:49,360 Speaker 1: can check out the iharradio, app, Apple podcast, or wherever 162 00:08:49,360 --> 00:08:50,600 Speaker 1: you listen to your favorite shows.