Abundance is a 3-part short film explores the limitations and radical possibilities of identity from the perspective of a jaded politico, Black storyteller, and pop culture enthusiast with Black queer feminist intentions. Our society knows very little about the lives of anyone who isn’t a cis-heterosexual white man. But I, and many other people like me, exist. I exist in a world that is consuming my Blackness, womanhood, femme presentation, queerness, and Midwestern charm through a distorted multimedia lens that has left the vastness of my humanity up to the imagination of capitalism and individuals who have never taken the time to know someone like me--or themselves for that matter.  

My deepest desire is to reclaim my humanity through how I understand myself, Black feminism in practice, and my ability to organize celebratory ceremonies in honor of Black women and femmes using the transgressive revolutionary standards of Black storytelling. I want to acknowledge and debunk the myths I believed about myself. Abundance juxtaposes my personal life against culturally significant socio-political moments like the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests, the raise of visible fat influencers and Lizzo, the popularization of alternative Black spiritual practices, and Black people being gay on purpose. These stories use humor and Phillips family folklore to make sense of tough realities in the tradition of Black Baptist testimonies. 

When I became “woke” or aware of how systems were created to oppress me and the people that I love, my first response was to find a political or community organizing institution to work within to fight back against the presence of capitalism and white supremacy in my life. After giving all of my twenties to organizing and explaining my humanity within these outdated political structures, I realized that our work has to be more expensive than a 501c3 or c4 can allow a Black radical. I had to become my own political home and hold on to the fact that I’m responsible for doing whatever it takes to make sure I’m well enough to practice my dreams of liberation right now. 

Welcome to Abundance. I hope you find a reason to stay.