BLACK WEIRDO OF THE WEEK #49 BRILYAHNT PEACE
PHOTO CREDIT: original photo by Estefania Alvarez-Zumarraga
I’m a politically minded individual raised on the Northside of Minneapolis, MN out to create and impact Culture. Rightly so, much of the work that I do is focused on building strong, positive, safe communities and getting people to think differently. One of my many goals in life is to get paid to kick it.
What is your craft/career/creative expression?
I write and perform poetry. I take dope pictures. I host and facilitate discussions and events. i ask a lot of questions. I used to be on the radio. I also curate spaces crafted to get people to feel safe being themselves while experiencing different ways of living and being. Bringing people together for the purpose of love and good vibes is something I enjoy doing.
How long have you been working at your craft?
Well, I’ve been writing since i could write. I wrote my first story at 7. I started performing after joining this spoken word group Voices Merging at 19. That’s also when and where I started seriously crafting and hosting events, mainly just open mics at first. Bringing people together has always been my thing though. My birthday parties were off the chain! lol. Crafting myself has been the most interesting and fruitful journey….there were a couple a years when i forgot how to love and care for my Self…i don’t ever want to go back there again. That’s part of what drives my work. I want people to know it’s okay to be weird. It’s okay to love yourself, in fact it’s a MUST.
Why do you consider yourself a Black Weirdo?
I never fit the dominant narrative of what we’re TOLD it means to be Black in america. I loved school growing up, I grew up with both my parents in the home, i didn’t have asthma and i’ve never seriously fully experienced poverty.
Beyond that, I also have Sickle Cell Anemia, a disease that impacts 1 in 12 Black americans but is still largely mystified and misunderstood. Growing up, I would often get sick and be hospitalized…i felt like my illness ostracized me from many of my peers.
Black Weirdo just speaks to me. I think there are sooo many ways to experience and be Black and however you choose to express that (or not express that) is okay. I really want more people in my community to see and believe that.
Love, and everybody in it.
These rowdy ass LOUD ass bout to tear some ish DOWN ass young people.
Those who are able to be vulnerable. .
Bike rides, sunsets, the rain, MY PEERS.
Kanye. Anybody that’s doing something that makes it possible for us to SEE
differently, inspires me.
Who is your weird black muse?
This is so hard! The first person to pop in to my head was Grace Jones, but I don’t know shit about Grace Jones!
So, I’m gonna go with Malcolm X. The man was a dangerous mind with a fast, smart tongue. The way he holds his power while in interviews or while giving speeches gives me chills!
brilyahntpeace.tumblr.com
lovefeedsmysoul.tumblr.com
KMOJ’s Youth Summit past shows
Upcoming events/ projects?
Just a Taste, a late-night monthly concert series highlighting Hip Hop and performance artists from Minneapolis and St.Paul. The purpose is to showcase just a taste of what the Twin Cities Hip Hop and performance art scene has to offer. Just a Taste will be taking place at the legendary Dakota Jazz Club January 17th, February 21st, March 21st and April 8th of 2015.Just a Taste is a collaboration between brilyahnt peace and Hip Hop artist, I.B.E.
titsay
romaincrisis
yousharknotpass
