{"@context":"http://iiif.io/api/presentation/3/context.json","id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/iiif/hx15m63z74/manifest","type":"Manifest","label":{"en":["Sapphira Martin Oral History"]},"logo":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/organizations/logo_images/000/000/010/original/Aviary_QPLlogo_192x192.png?1578574261","metadata":[{"label":{"en":["Description"]},"value":{"en":["\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSummary of Full Interview\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eSapphira Martin is a 30-year-old entrepreneur who co-hosts the podcast Black Girl Podcast, co-owns the dance studio It's Dance located in Queens Village, and founded SassBoxx, a subscription service that provides curated beauty and lifestyle products from businesses owned by women of color. In the first half of this interview, Martin discusses her upbringing in Cambria Heights, her family's deep ties to Southeast Queens, and her family's extensive work as artists and educators. Martin recalls spending her Saturdays attending dance school as a child and developing strong interests in other creative pursuits such as writing, media, and entertainment while attending Benjamin N. Cardozo High School. In the second half of this interview, Martin discusses how the COVID-19 pandemic and the killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor by police in 2020 have and have not impacted her work as a Black creative professional and her activism for Black lives.\u003c/p\u003e"]}},{"label":{"en":["Rights Statement"]},"value":{"en":["\u003cp\u003eCC BY-NC-SA Contact digitalarchives@queenslibrary.org for research and reproduction requests.\u003c/p\u003e"]}},{"label":{"en":["Source Metadata URI"]},"value":{"en":["http://digitalarchives.queenslibrary.org/search/browse/43702"]}},{"label":{"en":["Date"]},"value":{"en":["2020-09-01 (created)"]}},{"label":{"en":["Type"]},"value":{"en":["Audio"]}},{"label":{"en":["Agent"]},"value":{"en":["Sapphira Martin (Interviewee)","Syreeta Gates (Interviewer)"]}},{"label":{"en":["Source"]},"value":{"en":["Interview conducted as part of the Queens Memory COVID-19 Project."]}},{"label":{"en":["Coverage"]},"value":{"en":["1990s-2020 (temporal)","Cambria Heights, St. Albans, and Queens Village, Queens, NY (spatial)"]}},{"label":{"en":["Language"]},"value":{"en":["English"]}}],"summary":{"en":["\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSummary of Full Interview\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eSapphira Martin is a 30-year-old entrepreneur who co-hosts the podcast Black Girl Podcast, co-owns the dance studio It's Dance located in Queens Village, and founded SassBoxx, a subscription service that provides curated beauty and lifestyle products from businesses owned by women of color. In the first half of this interview, Martin discusses her upbringing in Cambria Heights, her family's deep ties to Southeast Queens, and her family's extensive work as artists and educators. Martin recalls spending her Saturdays attending dance school as a child and developing strong interests in other creative pursuits such as writing, media, and entertainment while attending Benjamin N. Cardozo High School. In the second half of this interview, Martin discusses how the COVID-19 pandemic and the killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor by police in 2020 have and have not impacted her work as a Black creative professional and her activism for Black lives.\u003c/p\u003e"]},"requiredStatement":{"label":{"en":["Attribution"]},"value":{"en":["\u003cp\u003eCC BY-NC-SA Contact digitalarchives@queenslibrary.org for research and reproduction requests.\u003c/p\u003e"]}},"provider":[{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/aboutus","type":"Agent","label":{"en":["Queens Public Library"]},"homepage":[{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/","type":"Text","label":{"en":["Queens Public Library"]},"format":"text/html"}],"logo":[{"id":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/organizations/logo_images/000/000/010/original/Aviary_QPLlogo_192x192.png?1578574261","type":"Image"}]}],"thumbnail":[{"id":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/public/images/audio-default.png","type":"Image","format":"image/png"}],"items":[{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780","type":"Canvas","label":{"en":["Media File 1 of 1 - martin_sapphira_20200901_full.m4a"]},"duration":1367.168,"width":640,"height":360,"thumbnail":[{"id":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/public/images/audio-default.png","type":"Image","format":"image/png"}],"items":[{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780/content/1","type":"AnnotationPage","items":[{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780/content/1/annotation/1","type":"Annotation","motivation":"painting","body":{"id":"https://aviary-p-queenslibrary.s3.wasabisys.com/collection_resource_files/resource_files/000/253/780/original/martin_sapphira_20200901_full.m4a?1728052775","type":"Audio","format":"audio/mp3","duration":1367.168,"width":640,"height":360},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780","metadata":[]}]}],"annotations":[{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780/transcript/71498","type":"AnnotationPage","label":{"en":["Full Transcript [Transcript]"]},"items":[{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780/transcript/71498/annotation/1","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Syreeta Gates: So, thank you again for saying yes. My first request is that you say and spell your name for me.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780#t=0.0,9.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780/transcript/71498/annotation/2","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Sapphira Martin: Okay. My name is Sapphira Martin, and it's spelled S-A-P-P-H-I-R-A, last name Martin, M-A-R-T-I-N. I go by Sapphira Em, I guess like stage-name-wise, 'cause I am on a podcast, but my full name is Sapphira Martin.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780#t=9.0,29.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780/transcript/71498/annotation/3","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Syreeta Gates: Got it! Sapphira Em. We got you. We got you. We got you. The, the request is essentially we need permission to use this audio. So if you can say, I, first name, last name, consent the Queens Public Library's use of this content.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780#t=29.0,42.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780/transcript/71498/annotation/4","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Sapphira Martin: Okay. I, Sapphira Martin, consent the Queens Public Library's use of this content. Did I say that right?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780#t=42.0,49.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780/transcript/71498/annotation/5","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Syreeta Gates: Yeah, that was perfect. So we're going to hop right in. How would you describe yourself?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780#t=49.0,56.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780/transcript/71498/annotation/6","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Sapphira Martin: Hmm, that's a good question. I am a beautiful Black woman. I'm 30 years old. I'm from Cambria Heights, Queens originally, currently living in Queens Village. I am a entrepreneur, creative entrepreneur I like to say. And I'm a podcast host. I'm currently the co-owner of a dance studio with my mom. It's called \"It's Dance\" at The Brown Barre and we are in Queens Village, New York. I am also one-fifth of an amazing podcast called Black Girl Podcast with four other amazing Black women. I am the creator and curator for a subscription box service that was created for African American women, which is called SassBoxx. And, I'm really just a Queens girl, honestly, like if I have to be honest about it.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780#t=56.0,109.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780/transcript/71498/annotation/7","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Syreeta Gates: Let's go. Let's go. Okay. So talk to me about how your family got to Queens.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780#t=109.0,116.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780/transcript/71498/annotation/8","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Sapphira Martin: So my mom is African American and my father is Haitian American. He actually arrived in New York when he was 10 years old. And my mom, as far as I know, has been in Queens all her life. She was born in Brooklyn, but was raised in Queens, St. Albans, Queens. She's the oldest of six children. First college graduate in her family. So she's just always been very active in the Queens community. I grew up at Grace United Methodist Church as well, which is in St. Albans, Queens. And my parents have just always done things in the Queens community. We lived in Cambria Heights. We were always active with NAACP [National Association for the Advancement of Colored People] or through our church or just different things, also heavily in the dance community. My mom has owned the dance studio for about 18 years now, but prior to that, I feel like Queens dance, like just runs so deep.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780#t=116.0,173.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780/transcript/71498/annotation/9","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Sapphira Martin: So prior to that, we studied under Stanley Bates, who is a top name in Queens dance, and, yeah, that's it. But how we got to Queens, I'm trying to get back to that answer for you. They've just always been in Queens, proud Queens residents. I don't know, there's like this set of children who a bunch of our parents went to Jackson High School. And my mom is an alum of Jack, at Andrew Jackson High School, so she's like a true Southeast Queens head. She remembers when the rock got painted on Farmers Boulevard, you know, like I've heard all those stories in my life. I feel like if you've grown up in Queens, in a certain part of Queens, you just hear the same stories. Your parents went to Jack, they know when the rock came, they know when certain things started [unclear]. Like that's how Queens I am, I guess, I can explain that.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780#t=173.0,223.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780/transcript/71498/annotation/10","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Syreeta Gates: Clear. Clear. Got it. And talk to me about like two of your most fondest memories of growing up in Queens.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780#t=223.0,233.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780/transcript/71498/annotation/11","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Sapphira Martin: Ooh, wow. I have to think. Honestly, I guess I have to dedicate one of the memories to dancing school because, and I've been talking about this a lot with my friends and peers that I've come up with lately, but there's so many dance schools in the Southeast Queens area. You can't turn a corner and not find a dance school, a karate school. And I think I really cherish Queens for that. Like there was everything that was necessary for children to be involved in, in Queens. But yeah, Saturdays going to dancing school and just spending the entire day is a very fond memory for growing up in Queens for me. And then also, I think my experience in high school when I went to Benjamin N. Cardozo High School in Bayside and, you know, like, especially in this climate that we're in now, I've been reflecting on my high school years now. And honestly, Cardozo is a predominantly mixed school. It's not just one race there. So just reflecting on my memories there and being able to travel from Southeast Queens to, you know, the other side of Queens with my, my friends from I.S. 59, those are, you know, strong memories for me. So, yeah.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780#t=233.0,310.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780/transcript/71498/annotation/12","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Syreeta Gates: Got it. Shout out to 59. What did you have to take, the 31 bus?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780#t=310.0,315.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780/transcript/71498/annotation/13","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Sapphira Martin: So I lived in Cambria Heights, so I took the 27 all the way down Springfield [Boulevard]. [laughs]","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780#t=315.0,320.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780/transcript/71498/annotation/14","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Syreeta Gates: Got it. On a bus for like nine years.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780#t=320.0,325.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780/transcript/71498/annotation/15","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Sapphira Martin: Yeah. For the whole morning, basically. [laughs]","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780#t=325.0,331.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780/transcript/71498/annotation/16","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Syreeta Gates: Okay, cool. And, you know, talk to me, I mean, you mentioned so many things that you're passionate about, things that you were interested in. Talk to me about kinda like your venture as being a creative and what does that mean for you. What, having your hands in all of these pots, like what is the foundation?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780#t=331.0,350.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780/transcript/71498/annotation/17","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Sapphira Martin: So, my foundation again in creativity is definitely my mother and my family. There are a bunch of artists in my family, and there's also a bunch of educators, and that's also something that's kind of, you know, connected to my Queens memory. My parents are teachers, my aunts are teachers, and educators. So they've also taught in a lot of Queens public schools. And a lot of my friends who I may not have gone to school with have been taught by someone in my family. So, a lot of the things that I'm able to do now are because of the things that my parents had me involved in and just exposing me to.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780#t=350.0,388.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780/transcript/71498/annotation/18","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Sapphira Martin: My mom is a dancer, a dance teacher. My dad was a track coach. So I just kind of had the best of both worlds, you know, like I wasn't forced into doing anything, but I was always exposed to everything and whatever I kinda clicked to, it just, you know, became my thing. I never really went into track, but I continued with dance. And then when I got to high school, I was probably watching Brown Sugar and I fell in love with writing and I [crosstalk] joined the high school newspaper. Right. [laughs] I joined the high school newspaper and I remember I took a trip to Chicago for the summer. I was like 16. And it was with Jeter's Leaders, which was Derek Jeter's—he had this organization for youth. So it was a conference and I was able to meet Derek Jeter's family, and I was able to meet Muhammad Ali's family, and Muhammad Ali.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780#t=388.0,440.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780/transcript/71498/annotation/19","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Sapphira Martin: And then from that moment, I kind of fell in love with the idea of press and the idea of reporting. So I came back, wrote this whole article for my newspaper at school, and that opened up, you know, that part of my creativity as wanting to work in media and entertainment. 'Cause I had always danced my entire life, but that kind of opened that pathway for me. And I tapped more into that. I joined more organizations in school, like creating the year book, and I continued writing. So just, you know, between my parents exposing me to certain things and then also, you know, being able to have the opportunity to meet certain people and continuously being involved in the arts, it just kind of shaped like the next 10 years for me in which would be, you know, college and then my early twenties, of course. So, yeah.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780#t=440.0,492.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780/transcript/71498/annotation/20","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Syreeta Gates: Got it, got it, got it. And you know, talk to me about how, or if your life has changed during COVID and how it has affected your creative endeavors.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780#t=492.0,505.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780/transcript/71498/annotation/21","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Sapphira Martin: So my life, I wouldn't say it's dramatically, everyone's life has dramatically changed, but at the beginning of COVID, I was in my dance studio and I was leading every single day—actually throughout most of COVID leading every single day—a stretch class on Instagram. And it started as something that I wanted to do just for myself because we were forced to be inside. And it was like, I'm a creative, and I had already been doing things on my Instagram platform, so I'm like, \"Hey, this can be something to enhance it and let's see how long it goes.\" So one day I just started in March and then I kept going through everything. And then we had, you know, certain tragedies happen to us during this time while we've been inside. I remember when George Floyd was killed, that became a whole message. Then that turned something even more for the class.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780#t=505.0,563.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780/transcript/71498/annotation/22","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Sapphira Martin: Like, you know, people are looking forward to waking up every morning and starting their day a certain way. So you just have to keep going. And as a Black creator, it just became more important for me to show up for the people who tuned in with me. And the class is not just about stretching and it's not just about, you know, cute songs, but it's also like I'm giving a part of myself to other people who may be broken at this time or to other people who might not want to wake up and go to work, might not want to teach their kids [unclear] remote learning. So all of these things kind of motivated me and helped me to just continue dancing. I also had to continue online learning with my students at my dance studio. I had to continue doing podcast work via Zoom, as you guys know. So things changed. And it was really funny because January and February were really great creative months for me business-wise and just, you know, personally, and then just to be locked inside from March on has kind of been, you know, a little off-putting, but just as a creative it's allowed me to open up my space and just really figure out how I can be the best person I could be for myself and how I could show up best as a creative for myself every day. So, yeah.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780#t=563.0,640.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780/transcript/71498/annotation/23","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Syreeta Gates: Got it. And you know, thinking about those moments, what have you been doing, whether it's, you know, self care work or otherwise, to ensure that just mentally you have the capacity to do any type of work?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780#t=640.0,655.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780/transcript/71498/annotation/24","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Sapphira Martin: Yeah, so dance has always been something again that has kinda been there always for me. So that's a healing process for me, being able to just get up and dance and let out whatever stress I may be going through, that helps. Doing work helps. And even though sometimes as a—'cause I'm also a freelancer essentially, it's not consistent, but just being able to find work and create the work that I need. And honestly, you know, being a creative in this time has helped me because I lean on my creativity to just get by and get through certain things rather than, you know, letting it sit and not doing nothing about it. So I love creating whether that's through dance, through talking, through writing, whatever it may be.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780#t=655.0,705.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780/transcript/71498/annotation/25","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Syreeta Gates: Got it. And, you know, you mentioned George Floyd, definitely want to talk about Breonna Taylor. [crosstalk] those unfortunate instances that unfortunately we've seen time and time and time and time and time and time and time and time and time again, like how have those shaped your worldview?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780#t=705.0,727.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780/transcript/71498/annotation/26","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Sapphira Martin: So I wouldn't say that these new, I don't mean to preface it like 'new', but the recent killings of Black people have not necessarily shaped my, like reshaped my worldly view from what it was before. And I gotta definitely give nod and credit again to my parents for that as far as what they exposed myself, and I have an older brother too, growing up. You know, like it wasn't just about—and I just had this conversation with another friend of mine. Traveling with your children is important and not just like, \"Oh, let's go take a vacation to The Bahamas.\" But I do remember going to certain places and my parents would talk to us before we got there. Like there may be people here that don't look like you. You may not be able to understand, or we're going to learn about people who are not like you.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780#t=727.0,777.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780/transcript/71498/annotation/27","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Sapphira Martin: So I definitely appreciate the way that I was raised because it allowed me to grow into the woman that I am and understand that certain things like the system wasn't built for us. And it helped me to understand how to be a better person, that I have to be twice as good in order to get the things that I need as a Black woman. So as far as the recent killings of our Black brothers and sisters, it's hurtful, it's disgusting, I'm in the forefront fighting for it, but I'm not surprised, it's not reshaped the way I think of America. I still very much think that this country was never built for us. We're not supposed to be here. We're not supposed to be here. And I'm very adamant in thinking about that. So, yeah [crosstalk]","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780#t=777.0,825.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780/transcript/71498/annotation/28","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Syreeta Gates: Nah, with you a thousand percent. But how has it like shaped your activism in any particular way?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780#t=825.0,830.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780/transcript/71498/annotation/29","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Sapphira Martin: I'm more, I guess I could say more, I wouldn't even say more than before, but it's just like, I'm still there. You know, like, I don't, not to make it sound like I'm being obnoxious or to toot my horn, but the same way I was before Breonna, Ahmaud [Arbery], George, Trayvon [Martin]—you know, when Trayvon happened, I was like 22—the same way that I was before any of these people died, my energy is still there. My activism is still there. I had the opportunity this summer to plan a march and rally with our good friend, Nantasha Williams. That was a great experience because in the middle of a pandemic, it's like, you don't know if you really want to go outside, right? Because it's a pandemic, a COVID-19 pandemic. But also our community needs to know that we need to be heard. The youth in our community need to know that there are people who are standing up for them that are not so far in age from them. You know, like, the kids in our community needs to be able to see, oh, wow, I, maybe some, I go to school with so and so's cousin. You know, like, it's so many different connections, so it's so layered as to why it's necessary. So I did stop my social distancing, and I helped plan that march with Nantasha and Tunisia Morrison. And it was a great turnout and it ended up raining and I was a little scared because again, pandemic.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780#t=830.0,922.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780/transcript/71498/annotation/30","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Sapphira Martin: But I think that people need to know that your life as a Black person is activism. Anything that you do as a Black person in this world needs to be about activism. Whether it's passing out snacks at a rally or sending tweet, like if you're the only person sitting at home sending tweets, that's what you're doing because there are so many different ways and so many—activism looks so many different ways. There's no way to be an activist. And again, especially if you're a Black person, your life is in tribute to activism because there's so many people who came before us who died for this. Like there are, there are literally people that I can't even name who died for me to be able to sit on this phone with you. There are people who came before me I can't even name who died for us to vote. So, yeah. That's my soap box though. [laughs]","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780#t=922.0,977.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780/transcript/71498/annotation/31","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Syreeta Gates: [unclear] for your TED talk, for your TED talk, I'm with you.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780#t=977.0,980.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780/transcript/71498/annotation/32","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Sapphira Martin: Thank you. [unclear] TED talk [laughter]","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780#t=980.0,983.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780/transcript/71498/annotation/33","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Syreeta Gates: For, you know, artists in particular, kind of like creatives in particular that are like, \"Oh, I'm not an activist,\" but they do, whether it's visual art, whether it's, you know, interviews, whether it's, you know, doing film, whether it's archiving and preservation, like, what would you, you know, say to them, if they're like, \"Yo, I'm not an [activist]. I'm just out here creating the work.\"","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780#t=983.0,1010.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780/transcript/71498/annotation/34","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Sapphira Martin: I would tell them that their work is in tribute to activism. I think I'm saying it wrong, but I think you understand what I'm saying Syreeta. But I would let them know like their work is activism. And I've said it to people who've, you know, my friends of mine who were like, \"I don't know what to do.\" Even when I was planning the march and I was trying to get volunteers or asking people if they wanted to support in any way, any way. And honestly, I grew up in church and the way I've been thinking lately, like it kind of ties to the way that people look at tithing too. You know, I don't really go to church like that anymore, but tithing is really a relationship based upon what you have with God. It doesn't have anything to do with necessarily what you're giving physically in money to a church.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780#t=1010.0,1055.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780/transcript/71498/annotation/35","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Sapphira Martin: And that's the same thing for activism. That's like, that's your relationship to the cause. I can't tell you like, \"Oh, because you only painted one stroke on the poster for the rally that you are not for the cause.\" You tried, you showed up to do what you can do best. Everyone is not the same. I have friends who I've grown up with, they're not going to plan a march and assist [unclear] march the way that I did, but maybe they'll buy water for the march. Maybe they'll, you know, maybe their artwork can be auctioned off in that march. Maybe they're going to send their dancers to the march. Like, there's different parts of it and everybody has to be a moving part of it in order for it to work.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780#t=1055.0,1097.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780/transcript/71498/annotation/36","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Syreeta Gates: Absolutely. Absolutely. And do you think COVID has been beneficial in people, you know, staying consistent around supporting the work that needs to be done so that all Black lives are free?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780#t=1097.0,1114.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780/transcript/71498/annotation/37","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Sapphira Martin: Yes, I do. Because, excuse me, because nothing's open and people are petrified. So I think with that fear that keeps people inside, it's kind of like, there's nothing else for us to do. This is in our face and it keeps happening. So we have no choice but to tune in and but to listen because there are things that I wasn't even paying attention to before COVID happened that I'm like, \"Wow, I never knew this.\" Now I'm paying attention. Now I have the time to actually say, and you know, read up more information and educate myself. That's simply all that it is. And all of these things can be eradicated with education, honestly, racism included, because that is a learned behavior.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780#t=1114.0,1159.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780/transcript/71498/annotation/38","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Syreeta Gates: Say it louder for the people in the back.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780#t=1159.0,1162.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780/transcript/71498/annotation/39","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Sapphira Martin: [laughs] It is a learned behavior. It is a—nobody can be born racist. We are all born with the same body parts with different colors. Like, you can't be born and it's like, \"Oh, this one's white. Racist. This one—\" like, it doesn't work that way. It's a learned behavior. Hatred is a learned behavior.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780#t=1162.0,1184.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780/transcript/71498/annotation/40","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Syreeta Gates: Got it, got it. Are there any, you know, what do you think the future looks like for creatives after COVID?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780#t=1184.0,1194.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780/transcript/71498/annotation/41","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Sapphira Martin: Oh wow. That's a very interesting question, Syreeta. I think it looks like what we make it look like, for real. And the more that we start to realize that—and I think honestly, we are coming to that 'cause, you know, who knows when pandemic is going to be over, but I guess this is like the latter of it [unclear] later in the year. And I remember in the beginning, people were like, \"Oh, you don't have to come out of this pandemic with X, Y, and Z.\" And then there was another side of people like, \"Oh, you better come out of this pandemic with X, Y, and Z.\" But it's really just about again, you have to educate yourself in order to get the XYZ. So I really feel like what it's gonna look like for us is what we have made of it. And so far, honestly, it's, it's a good, it's a good road, especially for Black creators. And I will say on this podcast, I do think that Black creators are saving quarantine on all fronts.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780#t=1194.0,1255.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780/transcript/71498/annotation/42","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Syreeta Gates: It's funny you mentioned that. My home girl is literally the founder of blkcreatives, B-L-K Creatives, on like Instagram [unclear]. And Twitter actually—actually let me, let me get it—Twitter posted like her tweet on the side of a billboard and it literally says, \"Even in the middle of pandemics and protests, Black creativity [unclear] saving grace.\"","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780#t=1255.0,1282.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780/transcript/71498/annotation/43","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Sapphira Martin: Yup. I saw that. I saw that.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780#t=1282.0,1286.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780/transcript/71498/annotation/44","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Syreeta Gates: So yeah, definitely in alignment with what you just said, for sure, for sure. And is there like, knowing that this is going to be archived in a library, is there anything else that you want to discuss so that it can exist in that space?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780#t=1286.0,1302.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780/transcript/71498/annotation/45","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Sapphira Martin: Oh, thank you for asking me that. I am just, honestly, first of all, I'm honored to be sitting here talking to you because I am really proud to be from Queens, New York. And Queens gets a lot of slack, but we are some of the greatest and most creative and most talented people in the world. And I'm honored, I'm really honored to be on this podcast. I hope that everyone listening goes out and votes in November 2020. It is so important for us to vote. Lord, have mercy, please vote [laughs] like your life depends on it. And, Black lives have always and will always matter. That's really it. That's really all that I want people to forever know. Black lives have always and will forever matter. Forever, ever, ever.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780#t=1302.0,1363.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780/transcript/71498/annotation/46","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Syreeta Gates: Okay, let me stop this recording. [laughter]","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/136777/file/253780#t=1363.0,1367.168"}]}]}]}