Today we’d like to introduce you to Basi White
Hi Basi, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I started writing in 1st grade and never stopped. As I realized the lack of representation in my favorite genres, even failing to write ethnic characters myself, I had a paradigm shift and began to imagine my stories in a very different light. They felt more authentic and relatable to me. Around 2019 I began writing and world-building for my flagship graphic novel, Aaru En Duat, and spend about four years refining it. This brought me to create spin-offs like my 2022 release, Lost With All Hands. I also realized there may be a financial barrier for some, so there are free webtoons and stories available on my website. Like me, there are people of African descent that love comics, manga and animation but don’t have many options for black content in that realm. Sensiil Studios will be bridging that gap. For more information visit my website, sensiilstudios.com or message me on social media, @sensiilstudios.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Once I got past the external challenges, I learned the toughest struggle is maintaining a sense of self-efficacy and competency. We all fight the voices in our heads that want to deter us from greatness, and they sound different for everyone. One of the biggest external challenges is making sure I have funds to continue doing what I do, which comes from the support of my fans and supporters. Another challenge is doing all this while balancing my family time and raising kids!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Sensiil Studios is the first Black Comic Book Publisher in Iowa & Nebraska and one of the few in the Midwest. Our mission is to create a multimedia library of narratives featuring BIPOC characters and culture to bring authentic representation to the sci-fi genre. With a slew of characters from across the pan-African spectrum, we have committed to building a non-politicized, unashamedly black story for anyone from middle school to college age. What sets us apart from the rest is our location, genre, and relationships with people like NASCAR driver Colin Garrett and his nonprofit, the 11/11 Veteran Project.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
I don’t think there’s a specific memory. It’s more so the blissful ignorance and freedom. The world was full of unknowns and possibility and as we get older there is a pressure that makes the world smaller and less accessible. But my inner child and creativity loosens me from the gravity of Earth and allows me to revisit the obliviousness and raw joy of childhood.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sensiilstudios.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/sensiilstudios
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/sensiilstudios
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sensiilstudios
Image Credits
Betty Ann Photography