Being apart of Black culture-making with Dafina Roberts
Dafina Roberts
During Black History Month, we will spotlight the voices of Black creatives. From content creators to co-founders, we’ve asked questions to those that inspire us to tell us what’s on their mind. The interview questions remain the same throughout, but the answers provide a unique view of every single person.
Dafina Roberts is a writer, director, and producer in television, film, and theater. The New York native is known for their work on the dramedy series, ‘Giving Me Life (In The Land of Deadass)’, and co-producing a coming-of-age film, ‘Punching at the Sun’ which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.
What does Black History Month mean to you?
This month serves as a reminder that we should be celebrating history makers from the African diaspora throughout the year. However, since it’s clear that we, as a society, are still struggling to come to terms with systemic racism and the rewriting/whitewashing of history, the need for BHM remains urgent and pressing. The month also is an opportunity to celebrate for those who are literally creating history as I finish typing this sentence, and I hope, as a content creator, to be a part of culture-making and changing the narrative about Black folx.
How does your storytelling speak to the Black experience?
I am Blactina born in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, raised throughout New York City and now living in the Bronx. My formative years were rough and unconventional, and the tribe of people who became my life-long friends included an idiosyncratic mix of progressive black and brown, queer and straight artists, activists, and creative professionals. My stories are about the people who I grew up with and who inspire me. There is no one Black experience, so I speak about my own experience and perspective based on where I’m from and the people I know.
What kind of stories do you feel still need to be highlighted for the Black Queer community?
I would like to see more Black non-binary/trans/non-gender confirming characters. I’d also like to see more diversity in terms of the portrayal of sexuality from asexuality to polyamory. I think we need more diverse and intersectional portrayals of the Black Queer characters and the communities in which we live. We need stories that are not centered in internalized racism and heteronormativity because those types of stories are steeped in a status quo that stunts our ability to fully partake in loving relationships with our partners and our community. We need stories about the never-ending struggle for authenticity and connectedness in a world that feels absurd and hopeless. We need stories that give solace, inspiration, hope and that ultimately let us know that we are not alone.
In celebration of Black History Month, Revry has curated a powerful collection of stories told by Black artists featuring films, TV series, music, and more. See the playlist on Revry.
