We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Isiah ThoughtPoet Veney a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Isiah ThoughtPoet, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Some of the most interesting parts of our journey emerge from areas where we believe something that most people in our industry do not – do you have something like that?

i believe that slowly folks are starting to believe that helping community is how we all are able to get what we need and manifest peace for ourselves and each other.

Isiah ThoughtPoet, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I got into photography mostly because of my grandmother being the artist and individual she was as a child. Since then I’ve always given the city itself and my love for it a big reason why I create in the way that I do. I provide photography services, creative direction for businesses and organizations. I also help folks tell their stories via interviews and documentaries that I help direct with the help of my Unsocial Aesthetics team. What sets me apart from others is my ability to truly tune in with my surroundings to create something that will stand the tests of time. This has always shown in my work and in the relationships I build in community. What I’m most proud of is the way that my work can represent communities in Chicago that might not always get the most resources. Telling those stories has always and will forever be my goal because that’s the key to truly changing how we help community. What I want anyone to take away from my work is that I am a writer and you will always see that in my work, if it inspires you, compels you to support more, or even if it just helps you feel a certain type of peace. I’ve done my job.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

In 2020 during the George Floyd riots in Chicago I was apart of the org Black Youth Project 100 and unfortunately I was one of the organizers arrested in that moment. While the moment itself went viral I was not supported by the folks in the organizing community I called my family. It hurt because I was going through physical and verbal abuse from ex partners and family. So when the Levi clothing company took some of my work to use for a international black history month clothing campaign from seven years ago prior without my consent I was even more hurt and confused about my position in things. The organizer that gave them the photos for it then proceeded to call me personally and told me I didn’t take the photos even though I helped organize the very same protest she was in. With all of this going on I was very discouraged to continue my work but the youth of Chicago from orgs like good kidds madd city and chicago freedom school kept encouraging me to keep going. That helped me lead a protest called #Breakthepiggybank which the triibe chicago called “the best action of 2020”. This moment reminded me that the community I represent needs my voice as we continue to build a new Chicago that cares about community.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

if my goal is anything it’s to continue building community and safe spaces where folks can become inspired by what’s around them and help each other with what we need. I hope to continue doing this through my photography and my ability to tell stories that truly shed light on blk Chicago and everything that comes with that.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.thoughtpoetsopinion.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thoughtpoet77/?hl=en

Image Credits
LOUIE MARXX Recoechi and renzell vic spencer tonika johnson