My Top 5 stories of 2021
Great stories transcend mediums, and as someone who strives to master the art of storytelling, I love when I come across stories that challenge my beliefs, evoke an empathetic connection, and push the boundaries of the art form. These are the stories that have the most impact on me because these are the kinds of stories I strive to tell. Stepping into 2022 I reflect on a few stories that inspired me to perfect my craft and ultimately chase my dreams.
- Ishmeal — Daniel Quinn
“What is crucial to your survival as a race is not the redistribution of power and wealth within the prison but rather the destruction of the prison itself.”
This book found me on a late night in Hawaii after having a deep conversation with a friend. As a kid, and still to this day, I am driven by the question “Why?” For me, this book is one answer to my endless questions. Ishmeal tells the story of a teacher who seeks a pupil who is eager to save the world. Through this relationship, the truth is revealed about the nature of our human culture. I learned that no matter how doomed we think humanity may be, we are not humanity, we are just one culture, a culture that can change through stories.
2. HUMAN Extended version VOL.1 — Yann Arthus-Bertrand
“Love is not a feeling but an act. Love is as love does” — Bell Hooks
When I came across this documentary, I was instantly intrigued by the global stories & perspectives told on love. And it was the story of Agnes Furey & Leonard Scovens that impacted me the most. As a prisoner serving a life sentence, Leonard started the documentary recalling his first lesson on love, which came from someone who should’ve hated him the most, the mother/grandmother of the woman and child he murdered. To me this story is powerful not only because it reveals the power love holds, but it offers us the opportunity as human being to explore what is possible when we operate from a place of love. Watching Leonard choke on vulnerability but courageously accept responsibility drew me into this story, so much so that I bought the book they co-wrote telling their story.This story taught me that if there is love, there is hope, because LOVE IS THE ONLY ANSWER TO HUMAN EXISTENCE!
3. Dave Chappelle — Equanimity & The Bird Revelation
I’ve had a lot of great laughs this year, some of which have come from watching the GOAT himself, Dave Chapelle. When it comes to comedy, Dave Chapelle is the undeniable master at it, so much so that you forget that at the core of comedy is storytelling. Dave is able to invite audiences on a satirical journey from punchline to punchline all while openly offering the truth. I hold comedians in high regard because to me comedy is one of the hardest art forms to do exceptionally well. I appreciate his honesty and ‘fuck-it’ mentallity. What I learned from his stories is to have the unparalleled audacity to be true to you and to have fun doing it!
4. The Harder They Fall — The Bullitts
If you haven’t seen this film yet, go watch it! The Harder They Fall is definitely one of my favorite films this year. I’m big on shifting culture by changing our narratives and I feel like this film accomplished that. The Harder They Fall is not only a breath of fresh air, but also a cinematic masterpiece! I love this film because the story offers a new black narrative that looks at black existence outside of trauma and opens up more opportunity for those stories to be told. That’s what I’m excited about.
5. Bloom — Takaitheartist🌈
The last story that inspired me this year is one I came up with, BLOOM. At its core, ‘Bloom’ is a Love story about the unknown kinship between a father and daughter, and the discovery of it. Set in a near future where global oxygen levels are rapidly dwindling, a self proclaimed botany teacher nurtures the questions of an innocent pupil whose genuine curiosity leads the teacher to confront his past in order to promise his future. I was inspired by Ishmeal to create an afro-futurist short film that highlights themes of abundance, control/release, and ecocriticism. I believe that in order to have seismic shifts in our American culture, the seismic shifts must start with a shift in thinking. “Bloom” is a forward looking short film that aims to challenge our cultural norms and shift how we think about our cultural responsibilities.