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Home / All Stories / SiKK Nation
SiKK NationWe Stand For CollectiveVoice & Collective Action
Mar 5, 2020
The Chuck Taylor All Star has been a canvas of self-expression for over 100 years. With the release of the customizable I Stand For Chucks, Converse and SiKK Magazine, a student-founded publication out of Washington D.C., got together with a group of creatives for a day of conversation around individual expression—and the collective power that comes from speaking up. Afterwards we met with Nadira Jamerson –founder of SiKK Magazine–for a Q&A.
What's SiKK's mission, and why is it important for communities everywhere?
SiKK Magazine's mission is to highlight Black creativity freshly and positively, to inspire other Black artists to believe in and follow their creative passions. We strive to educate about and advocate for the expansion of Black people in all fields of art. We believe that the arts can strengthen and enrich every community if all people are given equal opportunity to participate.
"We believe that the arts can strengthen and enrich every community if all people are given equal opportunity to participate."
What did you learn from spending time withConverse creatives?
One of the speakers, Journee, made the distinction between "empower" and "re-power." She said that "empower" assumesthat the group being spoken about was once powerless, which is often not the case. I think this is especially important to rememberas I do work with SiKK. The artists we showcase are powerfulregardless of our or others' recognition; however, we can helpadd to that power with our platform and support.
What was the biggest takeaway from thosetwo days?
The power of think-tanks. Being able to talk freely with a few dedicated and inspiring artists gave us so many ideas. We think that smaller, community-based discussions could be a tool for all to grow, even if it does not include a photoshoot, etc.
The most memorable moment?
My favorite moment came at the end of the event. In the beginning, everyone was nervous because we were all meeting each other for the first time. By the end, the energy wascompletely different. Everyone was laughing and conversingfreely. Artists were able to make connections and friendshipswith each other directly from this moment spent in discussion.That was amazing to watch.
What did the I Stand For shoe—and this moment—mean to you?
The shoe is a great memento. It allows me to have a physical representation of the ideas and passions I had at this moment. Iplan to keep them forever. This moment showed me that SiKK'svoice is not going unnoticed. Sometimes as an entrepreneur youcan feel isolated. Being with all those amazing artists, sharingtheir views and time, reaffirmed the purpose of this work. As longas people like that want to talk to us, we're doing something right.
How can the act of expressing yourself on your shoes inspire the world around you?
One of the first things I notice about an outfit is the shoes. If youwrite what you believe in, what you stand for, on your shoes, youare creating the opportunity to inspire all the people you walk by.
What does it really mean to stand for something?
Standing for something is believing in something. When you believe in something, you use your ideas, energy, and actions to bring it to fruition.
What else is SiKK working towards in 2020?
Currently, SiKK is working on refining its visual identity and stylistic fingerprint. We are striving for more in-person engagement events, starting with our second annual musicfestival, Mucus Fest 2020, in February. Our primary goal isto share our mission more thoroughly and effectively withall parts of the world. You'll see a lot more from us—interviews, videos, and celebrations.
Get your own and amplify your voice with #IStandFor.
March 5, 2020
Q
What’s SiKK’s mission, and why is it important for communities everywhere?
A
SiKK Magazine's mission is to highlight Black creativity freshly and positively, to inspire other Black artists to believe in and follow their creative passions. We strive to educate about and advocate for the expansion of Black people in all fields of art.
What did you learn from spending time with Converse creatives?
One of the speakers, Journee, made the distinction between "empower" and "re-power." She said that "empower" assumes that the group being spoken about was once powerless, which is often not the case. I think this is especially important to remember as I do work with SiKK. The artists we showcase are powerful regardless of our or others' recognition; however, we can help add to that power with our platform and support.
What was the biggest takeaway from those two days?
My favorite moment came at the end of the event. In the beginning, everyone was nervous because we were all meeting each other for the first time. By the end, the energy was completely different. Everyone was laughing and conversing freely. Artists were able to make connections and friendships with each other directly from this moment spent in discussion. That was amazing to watch.
The shoe is a great memento. It allows me to have a physical representation of the ideas and passions I had at this moment. I plan to keep them forever. This moment showed me that SiKK's voice is not going unnoticed. Sometimes as an entrepreneur you can feel isolated. Being with all those amazing artists, sharing their views and time, reaffirmed the purpose of this work. As long as people like that want to talk to us, we're doing something right.
One of the first things I notice about an outfit is the shoes. If you write what you believe in, what you stand for, on your shoes, you are creating the opportunity to inspire all the people you walk by.
Currently, SiKK is working on refining its visual identity and stylistic fingerprint. We are striving for more in-person engagement events, starting with our second annual music festival, Mucus Fest 2020, in February. Our primary goal is to share our mission more thoroughly and effectively with all parts of the world. You'll see a lot more from us—interviews, videos, and celebrations.
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