We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Traci Carr a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Traci , thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

Hi, thank you so much for having me! “Super Power to the People” has definitely been the most meaningful project for me. It’s taking everything I hold dear politically and ideologically and melding it with such creativity. Art and politics go hand in hand and this show exemplifies that. From geek culture to animation to classic movies and current shows, we are looking to explore it all through the lens of leftist activism and action.

We’ve been able to use media in a way that inspires communities to fight for what they believe in while giving them the support and tools they need along the way. This show wouldn’t be anything without those communities and the individuals that comprise them, who have been on the front lines of the fight against racism, police brutality, transphobia and other perils of late stage capitalism.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m Traci Carr, a Los Angeles based activist, actor and producer. I was born and raised in New Orleans, and I’m also a Hurricane Katrina evacuee. I mention this because experiencing that at such a young age really pushed me into learning more about politics and activism. Losing so much in an instant and seeing how my parents had to rebuild in the face of a natural and national disaster forced me to be more politically conscious when it comes to understanding the world.

Before the protest uprising in 2020 I was often standing up in some fashion, be it for Trayvon Martin, the Occupy movement or Mike Brown. 2020 really shined a light on what I’m capable of under intense circumstances and I’ll never forget that. I hope to use that experience and knowledge to bring something new, authentic and meaningful to the conversation and the communities that need it most. Thus creating Super Power to the People!

Throughout this journey I’ve met some fantastic people both in the industry and in activist spaces. I met with Ethan Erwin, a fantastic producer who has shown an incredible amount of support for the show. I’ve learned a lot from him about what a producer can pull off. I’m also proud to say I’ve met with Michael B Jordan’s company, Outlier Society, and I’m over the moon with gratitude for that and other opportunities on the horizon.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

The mission is to keep hope alive. Keep people going beyond the burnout. I know for myself and others I’ve worked with it’s hard even just looking at our phones sometimes because we dread what we may see. That’s why it’s important to uplift the folks who pour so much into these stories of community and resilience. The most recent and shining example is Andor. The parallels of that show and what we do as activists really touched home for many. Art is meant to spark glimmers of hope or at least get the conversation started on crucial topics.

As the show develops, we’ve been focusing on what we can do for the community. Previously we produced an event called “Wakanda Forever Together”. It was an evening with families of a South Central after school arts program who got to watch the film for free while enjoying a musical performance and speeches from community leaders. They also got the chance to be on their very own red carpet at the Alamo Drafthouse and left with goodie bags which included comics and action figures! We were recently able to donate over 9k in food donations to various community fridges and the Children’s Blind Center in Los Angeles.

The latest community event SP2P is producing is a collaboration with one of the coolest street artists in Los Angeles, Plastic Jesus. It’s still in the early conceptual stages, but we’re working together to create an immersive pop up event on Melrose. We’re aiming to use art to shed a light on current events while creating a sense of childlike wonder and bringing a bit of hope to the masses.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Seeing the impact of my art on others. I truly believe artists have a responsibility, especially during this time, to create something that sparks those conversations. As creatives I feel there’s a need for us to push things forward. Question everything. Make people see themselves. Help people see the world can be a better place. That should be what drives us in these times.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Www.instagram.com/superpowertothepeople
• Youtube: https://youtu.be/-FbIYAQeRzQ

Image Credits
Credit to Production and Graphic Designer Jeremy White. https://instagram.com/jwfilmdesign?igshid=NTdlMDg3MTY= Ryan Thomas Photography. https://instagram.com/ryan.thomasphotography?igshid=NTdlMDg3MTY=