As Black History Month comes to a close, the fam at FEEST is proud to highlight some of the amazing people who make our organization shine as brightly as it does! Check out below to learn about what Black Liberation means to some of our Board members here at FEEST! In addition to dreaming about Black Liberation, our board members also shared some Black Joy Offerings for you all to enjoy. Happy Black History Month, from everyone here at FEEST!
About Regina:
FEEST was on Regina’s (she/they) radar for several years before she was invited by a board member to attend her first Fresh Flavor event in 2019. The moment she walked into the space and found community, purpose and delicious food, she knew she couldn’t walk away without getting more involved! Her love for FEEST’s mission stems from her work as an educator, mentor and organizer of youth across Seattle and South King County. Currently, she works for King County Metro’s Learning & Development Team supporting workforce development for King County’s largest employer. In her spare time, Regina can be found watching horror movies, playing with her cats (Marceline & Momo), and eating lots of Soul, Caribbean or Filipino food with her family.
What does Black Liberation Look like to you? What does it feel like, smell like, sound like, and taste like?
Black liberation is the ability to embody our full spectrum of feeling without apology, here and now. Whether it’s joy, grief, rage, or any other emotion; our liberation happens through expression. It fuels our resistance by embracing our truth not just for the future but for today.
Regina’s Black Joy Offerings:
I have been enjoying NotWildlin’s Black History Month series where every day he affirms very niche references within the black diasporic experience that are hyper-specific and wildly accurate. This really has been cracking me up every single day!
About Gerard:
A native Californian that now calls Seattle home, Gerard has a passion for community service that dates back to childhood. A graduate of Seattle University’s Public Administration program and passionate supporter of the arts, he currently works in Human Resources at the Seattle Art Museum. In addition to his work with FEEST, Gerard serves on City of Kent Arts Commission, and is a Staff Sergeant in the US Army Reserves. In his free time you can find him running Greenlake, knitting scarves to donate, or cooking spicy vegan dishes.
What does Black Liberation Look like to you? What does it feel like, smell like, sound like, and taste like?
Black liberation looks like solidarity. A coming together celebrating joy, embracing pain, and working together for the betterment of the entire community. Often seen outwardly when social issues come to a head, however, smaller instances occur regularly around kitchen tables, churches, barbershops and meeting halls.
The feeling is one of validation and reassurance. Even in the midst of pain or adversity, it’s an opportunity to feel loved, supported, validated and counted. It can be heard in the voice of a singer our parents exposed us to as children, or the smells emanating from the kitchen as elders prepare meals that are the foundation for our earliest memories.
Unspoken recognition of one another in the form of a smile or nod of the head in passing. It carries as much weight as a vote of support on a ballot as it does in the firmness of a handshake or a hug. The offering of solutions to problems that can be solved. Acknowledgment and respect where opinions differ and no solution is in sight. It is comfort, it is hope, and it is peace.
Gerard’s Black Joy Offerings:
A great source of joy for me is music. Currently the album and artist I have embraced and offer to others is the Grammy award-winning album Michael by rap artist Killer Mike. The album can serve as a symphony or a soundtrack depending on where one is on life’s journey. It sheds light on so much of the contemporary black experience in a way that has the ability to unite generations; a musical embodiment of Black Liberation.
About Kaileah:
What does Black Liberation Look like to you? What does it feel like, smell like, sound like, and taste like?
Liberation for Black people is when we can be our whole-ass selves in community without question or criticism. It’s being able to be our beautiful, imperfect, constantly growing, unrelentingly human selves, and being well-loved in that ever-changing truly authentic self. And, it’s having the resources – both the tangible things we need, as well as emotional security and community – to be able to thrive as our authentic and interdependent selves.
Kaileah’s Black Joy Offerings:
I get a lot of joy from seeing Black alternative artists and creators who constantly form themselves into visions of Black futures. That includes Black cosplayers, alt and genderqueer fashion models and creators, sci-fi writers and storytellers, and Black punk and metal musicians. One of the top ways I get clued into these kinds of Black creators is through PunkBlack.com
Thank you for taking the time to learn more about our incredible team, and how they view Black Liberation, and their joyful offerings! Stay connected to our movement by following us on social media:
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