BENITA

Benita | Actor, filmmaker and activist | Yoga teacher🧘🏾‍♀️ | Berlin - Montreal - Toronto

Instagram: @benita_bailey and @labelnoir and @yellitfromthemountain 

1) THE BEST THING THAT HAPPENED TO YOU IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS?

Going back on stage in January after nearly 1,5 years of a break because I had a baby. It was a great role and good challenge for me. Shout out to @cabaltheatre

And of course starting my own show called #YELLIT From The Mountain.

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2) THE WORST THAT HAPPENED TO YOU IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS?

What did hit me in a major way was the killing of nine people in Hanau, Germany in February 2020.

The murder of Breonna Taylor, whose killers are still free and so many other killings of our people has been triggering and opened up wounds of buried trauma.  What happened in Hanau is hate crime in its worst form and I call German officials to treat it as such and put structures and measures in place to avoid such incidents. . . 3) YOUR BIGGEST WISH FOR THE NEAR FUTURE? I’d like to see people (including myself) live a more conscious life; more considered of and with empathy for others, aware of privileges and striving to be more generous with everything and everyone: time, presence, love. Maybe this pandemic gives us an opportunity to get closer to these things.  . . 4) AND YOUR BIGGEST WORRY? People are very self-absorbed. I think we all need each other. I am a big fan of community. I think we should invest in that. It will bring lots of healing and wisdom and bring back a lot of joy to saddened and lonely hearted people. It could be the cure for a few mental health issues of this society as well.  . . 5) A CONTEMPORARY WOMAN YOU CURRENTLY ADMIRE? I admire Dela Dabulamanzi and Lara-Sophie Milagro and myself. We are all doing it - the artist hustling game; all while being a mother, a woman and Black. Despite the society in every part of this world making it hard for my people to succeed, we are still here and doing it. It might take me longer than others but I know I’ll achieve my goals.  . . 6) A ONE-SENTENCE MESSAGE TO OTHER WOMEN? Discover what your heart beats for and then walk in your power!

A few more questions about the current situation (covid-19, lockdown, black lives matter protests, politics, finances, mental health, health, and so much more):

7) THE WORLD HAS BEEN CHANGING DRAMATICALLY IN RECENT MONTHS, HOW ARE YOU COPING?

I think what has been the most exhausting to me has also been the most grounding for me. My children help me focus, guide me to stay sane and give me a reason to work harder when I feel I have no power left. 

Besides my family it’s community that helped me cope. Even if it means extra zoom meetings on top of the work zoom calls. Online hang outs with friends and colleagues definitely carried me through some intense quarantine days.

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8) WHICH CHANGE HAS AFFECTED YOU THE MOST / HAD THE BIGGEST IMPACT ON YOU PERSONALLY? 

Zoom. Not to be able to be with people. I am an extrovert. So, I get energy from spending time with others. I feel blessed to have had my family around. And still I felt lonely a lot. I missed my friends, going to a cafe or see a show and I simply missed the day to day exchange with others.