Life experiences—each good and unhealthy— result in knowledge and information that may be put towards navigating the longer term. Coupled with endurance and time, Scottie Beam and Sylvia Obell landed into divine alignment after departing from a singular alternative they hoped would final endlessly.
This month, the 2 launched “The Scottie & Sylvia Present” hosted on Issa Rae’s Raedio YouTube channel. Letting us in on their sacred bestie convos and dropping knowledge alongside the best way, followers are capable of interact within the commentary and views we have come to like from them each.
The “greatest mates who hold their finger on the heart beat of the tradition” chatted with EBONY about their joint return to podcasting and standing of their energy as badass Black ladies.
EBONY: Congratulations on the debut of The Scottie & Sylvia Present! Why ought to folks bear in mind to by no means rely Black ladies out?
Sylvia Obell: Gwendolyn Brooks has this quote that claims, “We’re one another’s harvest; we’re one another’s enterprise; we’re one another’s magnitude and bond.” We do not rely Black lady out as a result of we now have one another—we do not rely one another out, ever. We’re gonna at all times open the door or window to determine how we will get in. That is why we make one another our enterprise. One factor a Black lady goes to do is get it carried out. We’re at all times anticipated to be resilient superwomen, which tends to get exhausting. Being double minorities, we now have to function from the mindset of “knock me down 9 instances, I am gonna stand up 10.” We simply don’t have any different selection. We have at all times needed to battle twice as arduous and be twice nearly as good and all of these issues. There’s only a degree of resiliency that God put within the DNA that is not in all the opposite flavors.
People have come to like you each deeply—respectively and as a unit—which is why there was a lot hype to your return to this area. When you have been away, how had been you capable of concentrate on bringing this new present to life in a brand new means?
Obell: On this scenario, we now have free-range to speak about something and every little thing. One of many explanation why we wished to return to Raedio was as a result of it was Black-owned and led. There’s not some random board of white people who we now have to fret about. What’s enjoyable about this new interval is that we get to get pleasure from and make the most of that artistic freedom, not be censored and be with a gaggle that helps the mission of talking reality to energy when essential. Additionally, we get to chop up and have enjoyable. One other most important distinction is, even after we do select to have interviews or after we discuss what we’re watching, it would not must be surrounded by one streaming firm.
Working with Issa [Rae] has proven how she’s simply so even free in the best way she strikes. The instance she units—whether or not she’s on a crimson carpet boldly saying that she’s “rooting for everyone black” and being unapologetic—you may’t assist however really feel empowered. Everyone falls in line. There’s simply an understanding of tradition, what’s essential and what’s not. We do not have to defend our work or why one thing Black is essential. The liberty to be seen and understood saves a lot time. Now, we will simply get to the work and the content material with out having to clarify why it must do what it does.
Scottie Beam: The whole lot that Sylvia stated. The whole lot.
Let’s discuss accountability—of our influence, our respective platforms and energy. Throughout podcast tradition, many individuals really feel entitled to say what they need off the power of “having a platform.” Do you assume Black ladies are held to the next normal to keep up accountability, or are we simply actually the badasses that can save the world?
Beam: There’s quite a lot of accountability in terms of podcasting and being on that microphone. Once we take into consideration microphones, we take into consideration, folks having the ability to inform the world what is going on on. Method earlier than podcasting was a factor, there was a factor referred to as radio stations, the place hosts may hold folks abreast of what was taking place of their communities and the world. Once I consider the microphone and us doing this present, it is the identical factor as dwelling inside our group and having the ability to categorical and inform folks what is going on on what’s taking place and the way we push ahead. We chat about the best way to look out for one another and enlarge that energy. It is loud and audacious.
Obell: One thing we have at all times tried to ensure we stand behind is prioritizing Black ladies and talking for them first. We’re not apprehensive in regards to the white gaze or the male gaze. We’re very a lot about ensuring we’re prioritizing the group that we’re part of, and infrequently really feel like is continuously neglected. We care about placing her—the Black lady— first and even placing our experiences first with out concern of what folks might give it some thought or the way it might come again. I feel that is the accountability we really feel—to talk up for the ladies who paved the best way for us. We had an episode on our outdated podcast the place Nia Lengthy talked about how a lot of what she did about being an outspoken Black lady in leisure was to open doorways for girls. Even our podcast made her really feel like that was one thing that she paved the best way for by means of her actions, audacity, brashness or no matter it could be. I feel we’re simply attempting to hold the baton that we have been so blessed to carry in that means.
You all take a second to present out free sport on The Scottie & Sylvia Present, but in addition affirmations for folk to remove after watching. What has been one in every of your favourite affirmations recently that you have developed, heard, or has been shared with you?
Beam: I have been studying this e-book by Dr. Pleasure Bradford—founding father of Remedy For Black Ladies—referred to as Sisterhood Heals. One factor she posed within the textual content is once you’re put ready, and you are feeling insecure about issues—is it truth or is it concern? All of us have moments the place we might not really feel like ourselves. I noticed that this type of thought would really hold me from lacking out on life or an expertise that you have by no means even felt or seen earlier than. I feel it is simply essential to ask your self this stuff, assume deeply about them, and be capable of conquer these ideas. If it is truth, then it is a truth. However quite a lot of the time, overthinking is concern.
Obell: I feel throughout this previous season of simply off time, I actually discovered to stray away from the attitude of “why is that this taking place to me” and shift to considering “what is that this attempting to show me?” The arduous issues that occur in life and what we now have to undergo will not be simply arbitrary. A mantra I attempt to bear in mind is pulling what my character growth wants from every scenario. That outlook has helped me a lot.
One other enjoyable affirmation I really like that has been on the middle of so many memes is “assume large b*tch.” There have been so many instances after I wasn’t considering sufficiently big. I by no means noticed any of this for myself, so to be right here within the area is main. EBONY was my first internship after I was in grad college, and 1000 arduous issues occurred in between then and now. I am realizing that the calling on our lives is so much greater than what both of us realized. Entering into that and discovering confidence in that has been attention-grabbing.
