Your heart is beating fast as you gulp air. The world is fast and buzzing between your ears. Questions outweigh the answers, as you count the amount of odds that are stacked against you. One decision could change everything. You take a deep breath from the bottom of your gut. Intuition takes over and everything else dissipates. You surrender.

This is the essence of taking a risk.

No matter what field you are in or what new goal you seek to conquer, taking a risk is never easy. Our minds enjoy definitive answers. Our body’s want to live in a constant state of safety. Friends and family echo that pesky question that we hate, “…but are you sure?” The answer is no. Certainty is elusive. No paths guarantee a sure route to success. The calling outweighs the cons and in this uncertainty is where we find growth. It’s where we begin to carve a small space for ourselves and imprint a way that is uniquely our own. This is where magic finds us.

For an artist, every creation is a risk—crafted not because the audience demands it, but because the artist needs it. The making of this film involved a substantial risk, exposing more of myself than I imagined and urging my collaborators to do the same. Can you personally recall the last time someone entrusted you with something monumental? What a profound gift it is to be perceived as someone whose story, thoughts, questions, or ideas are deemed worthy of exploration, comprehending, dissecting, and cherishing.

Grateful for the risks woven into my art. Risks ensure the authenticity of the work.

“GOD IS A BLACK WOMAN” is a poetic documentary delving into the lives of 11 women who unravel narratives of divinity, beauty, culture, and motherhood. The conversations are candid, the women are captivating, and the journey is universally relatable. This unique production has graced venues including Soho Warehouse Los Angeles, The Black Image Center in Culver City, and Notre Dame University. It seamlessly blends storytelling, visual art, and spirituality.

Reflecting on my voyage as a human and a creative soul, the core impetus driving my mission is the pursuit of freedom. The Western world is intricately woven with systems that we often adhere to without questioning their origins or purposes. My intent is not to dismantle or provoke these systems, but rather to inspire individuals to consciously examine what systems they willingly subscribe to.

During the creation of my film, many advised, “Chaz, that’s not how things are traditionally done.” I firmly believe that every tradition, initially established by someone, arose because an individual dared to forge a new path and then elevated it to a standard. Thus, I advocate for coloring outside the lines, urging people to view things with fresh perspectives and make choices they wouldn’t typically consider. This approach fosters a deeper understanding of why we make the choices we do, prompting us to inquire whether these choices align with our authentic preferences or if they are merely dictated by familiarity.

Moving forward, there are numerous paths to explore. While some may opt to walk, jog, or sprint, you’ll find me joyfully skipping through the journey, embracing the freedom to navigate it in my own distinctive way.

“GOD IS A BLACK WOMAN” emerges from the intrinsic resilience that women, women of color, and particularly black women, have demonstrated throughout centuries. It’s not lost on me that in today’s era, there are social media accounts showcasing opulent lifestyles – women gracefully waking up in Egyptian-cotton bedspreads on diamond-encrusted king-sized bed frames, moving to spacious stone and white kitchens to prepare french-vanilla lattes while gazing at a 360 panoramic view of their city. Within this prevailing narrative of resilience, there exists a crucial counter culture, a refreshing alternative highlighted by platforms like The Nap Ministry and the concepts like “soft life.”

The narrative of womanhood has long been one of navigating life’s impartiality, bias, and its focus on masculinity – flashing a smile, adhering unrealistic to beauty standards, and doing so while in heels. This narrative has persisted for far too long. Gone are the days of selfless devotion; today, we celebrate our boundaries and self-love. Artworks like “GOD IS A BLACK WOMAN” contribute to the celebration of sisterhood and the revelation of quiet strength. Water, calm and fluid, possesses immense power when harnessed correctly. We honor the flow within us, acknowledging the tranquility and the ability to adapt as necessary. The resilience of my journey has revealed the enduring beauty of embracing ease.