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Read MoreCamera Roll with Fariha Róisín
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Without the immediate normalcy or the ability to physically visit the homes of any passersby we admire, we instead wanted to explore the newfound intimacy of this time of uncertainty.
‘Camera roll’ is a new interview series where we glimpse into the current moment via the mundane and the ordinary; the life lived in this moment of a global pandemic and revolution. We are excited to kick off this series with a passerbuys alumni Fariha Róisín, a poet and writer based in Crown Heights.
Where are you?
I’m in the city with the highest covid cases in the world, New York baby! While a revolution is happening.
Are you alone?
Yes.
Are you working?
Yeah, a lot.
How do you achieve balance?
Personally, It’s super easy to be in a work mindset. I'm a Capricorn Sun and Mercury, and am ruled by Saturn... So just obsessed with work. Of self. Of body. Of mind. Of vocation. I was already a freelancer for many years and that in itself is a groove. Just to be patient with the flows is an important skill to acquire. Sometimes you don’t want do anything, and those are important moments of downtime. Of reflection and healing. It's basically important to utilize effectively whatever is coming up for you. When you live in capitalism, you think that your only value is the work you create, and I’m guilty of that for sure. Trying to go slow—with myself—is the easiest way for me to achieve balance. To really check-in, and be patient with myself. Good thing is, I feel like I’m learning to harness my time for relaxation more than I ever have before.
What does play look like for you right now?
Cooking, dancing, smoking weed, reading, writing my new poetry book, and my new book Who Is Wellness For, that I just sold. I'm thinking about what to write for my newsletter, jerking off, watching the occasionally good thing (latest faves: I May Destroy You, Pain and Glory by Pedro Almodovar and My Brilliant Friend) taking long sun baths in my backyard, doing shrooms, getting take out from Zaytoons or Saraghina or Diwan Grill (my top Caviar treats), drinking natural wine sparingly but just the right amount to really enjoy it, even the assortment of cool wines I’m trying has been a small gift. I’ve been buying from Thirst Wines and Bed Vyne intermittently.
How often do you step outside?
I have a weekly Union Market walk, which usually takes 45 min. The route I take is walking down the Promenade on Eastern Parkway right to Grand Army, past the Brooklyn Museum and Botanical Gardens and Library. It’s so delicious. I’ve been feeling parks a lot — like Prospect Park just hits different during these times, doesn't it?
Where is your face mask from?
I have one from Collina Strada and my friend Roopa Pemmaraju gifted one, as well as one from Abacaxi. I also got this silk leopard print one from Etsy.
Skincare routine while in quarantine?
I’m loving Rohr Remedy’s Rosalina Face Cleanser, Paula’s Choice Resist C15 Super Booster and Aotea’s Mānuka Honey Day Cream and Harakeke Seed Oil Night Cream — I’ve also been putting Manuka honey on my face a lot.
What have you been doing during quarantine that you haven't before?
Spending more time alone. In New York so much of your life is taken by the throes of the city which I don’t really like. So many folks I’ve been talking to have been mentioning how they actually welcome this rest. It’s just painful because clearly, the grief is still there. So, it’s examining the sadness of the moment, of the 132,000 (plus) people who have died, the death of Toyin Salau, Breonna Taylor, Elijah McClain… and the constant Black death at the hands of white inferiority. It’s incredibly painful. Even before the revolution started, I had been thinking about how important it is that we take this time to heal, to evolve, to start looking toward the future. This means understand patriarchal, white supremacist and capitalist violence. It’s divesting from these oppressive systems. It’s really understanding that our evolution as a planet and a species relies on us unlearning anti-Blackness, and caring for each other.
Places or organizations you're supporting or wish you could support?
Black Visions, Forthegworls, Okra Project and Bail Funds.
Do you have any positive thoughts on what’s happening?
I’m a die hard optimist. This is the future. We are being faced with ourselves, we are being forced to slow down and to confront ourselves. Both the pandemic and the revolution are engineering that end goal. I hate pessimism (especially from white people) because it’s so dishonest. If you don’t think things will change, invest in change yourself. Or… change yourself! We all have to do this collectively. So, I hope we all take the time to try and focus on evolution.
What can we do to help those suffering the most?
We can stop being so fucking greedy. I hope we can start looking at how dangerous and exploitative capitalism is and really start having integrity with what we say. The rich need to start divesting from their wealth to make a just and equal society. I wish we cared more about true equality.
What's been stimulating you?
Revolution.
Do you feel sexy and what inspires that feeling to you? What have you been doing to be intimate with yourself?
Lonely lingerie sent me a tonne of underwear the day quarantine went into action in NY… so I got lucky. I’ve been wearing it around the house, and really focusing on the connection between myself and my body. So yeah, I do feel sexy. Not every day, but most days I’ve been feeling pretty ok in that realm. My partner makes me feel sexy.
What are you listening to?
I’ve been making a quarantine playlist.
What are you watching?
My Brilliant Friend, Search Party and I May Destroy You.
What are you reading?
I’m currently reading Scenes of Subjection by Sadiya Hartman and a book about Sylvia Winter called On Being Human Praxis as Praxis. I just finished reading Carceral Capitalism by Jackie Wang. I think it’s important that we all start reading and learning about abolition immediately.
What are you eating?
I’m cooking a lot. Today I made shirataki sesame noodles with blackened catfish. For breakfast I had a thick Greek yogurt with passion fruit, grain-free granola and maple syrup!
What are you drinking?
Matcha and Pet Nats.
How do you keep active?
I try to do yoga everyday / and or go for a long walk.
Favorite things you've bought during the quarantine?
I bought some Julia Heuer skirts. She’s definitely one of my favorite designers.
Images provided by Fariha Róisín
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Growing up in political exile in the US, Mahen became a fixture in the NYC party scene of the 1970s and 80s. Now she’s the powerhouse founder of the African Film Festival which enters its 30th year this summer.
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