55 - Truth Speaks
Monica: Welcome welcome to the revelation project podcast. I'm Monica Rogers, and this podcast is intended to disrupt the trance of unworthiness and to guide women, to remember and reveal the truth of who we are. We say that life is a revelation project and what gets revealed. He gets healed.
Welcome to another edition of the revolution. Project podcast today, I am with a very special guest I'm with truth speaks. Truth is black. Non-binary trans queer woman with Southern roots. She relocated to the state of Maine in 2011 to be an evangelist truth is a black lives matter activist, feminist writer, femme and artist truth has a long history in the medical field doing nursing, but has shifted her focus on more.
Anti-racism. Labor starting back in 2015, she uses her art to draw attention to issues surrounding white supremacy, police brutality, and anti-black racism with a focus on black women. She's always looking for opportunities to empower women and to share her lived experience and true with the world. You can find more.
Out more about truth on Instagram and Facebook. And we'll put those in the show notes today. I want to talk to truth about decolonizing the mind and also about empowering women to really speak their truth in the world. So with a warm welcome, hello, truth. 
Truuth: Uh, 
Monica: how's it going today? Oh, you are so welcome.
I'm so, so blessed to have you 
Truuth: It's going well.  it's been, uh, spent a good smooth morning so far, very peaceful have a day off from the corporate world. So that's always nice. 
Monica: That is always nice. Yeah. And so we're also kind of sitting, you know, right before a big snow storm. I hear you guys supposed to get it in Maine.
Truuth: Yes, I keep hearing about it, but I haven't seen anything about it myself on it, because I was, I was  I was in a shop yesterday, I believe. And I heard an elder man talking about this huge blizzard of the year coming in. And I was like, Is he just being funny or? 
Monica: Yeah. I mean, this is the problem when you don't watch the news, right.
It's like, you're so disconnected from even the weather. I 
Truuth: know. And I, and lately I have been disconnected from the news because I'm like, post-election had me like. Exhausted and burnt out. So I was like, I watch too much news during the election. I was like, I just need a break. I don't care what the weather is.
I just need a break. 
Monica: I know. Well, I have to, I have to brag for a moment because all I have to do in the morning is turned to my right and my partner will say exactly what's going on with the weather and whatever his sleep. His sleep score was for the night. So that's the first report I get every morning.
I know. You're all jealous. It's pretty funny. Yeah. So, so I would love, I'd love to actually start by just, I just want to start with your name because you guys, as you're listening, I got to tell you it's like, y'all know that. Not only do I record on a couple of different platforms, zoom being one of them, but I love it when it says.
Truuth has entered the waiting room and right. And I'm just like, ah, I just love that you chose that name. So tell me more, tell me more about just your namesake. 
Truuth: Yeah. So I call myself truuth ultimately, because I am a person who for a long time has been seeking the truth. And I feel like I've been seeking that truth with.
All of my heart. And, you know, I, at one point in my life thought that I knew the truth, even on the journey of seeking it with all my heart, and you know, over the past, Five or six years have realized that, that my truth is just starting to begin with me coming out as queer would me coming out as trans with me, transitioning out of nursing, the corporate nursing world into activism and, and just more of a holistic health approach.
And so I feel like I call myself Truuth because. I am still on that journey of both seeking my truth and speaking my truth. And I want to live in a world where, where I am living in my truth, where I don't have to walk around feeling fearful or, like, or uncomfortable and all, and so many different spaces because  I am embodying my full, authentic self.
 And I want to be able to give that to other people, especially other women. you know, given the topic of patriarchy or like you mentioned earlier and just decolonizing the mind. And one of the things that I listened to on one of your podcasts is about not being sorry. And I think that's what it is.
Speaking your truth and living in your tune. So boldly. That you don't feel the need to apologize to anyone about it, and no one can write your narrative for you  and so I am the only one who can write my truth and I hope I live in that truth that I can also inspire others to live in their lives. 
Monica: I love that so much.
Truth is something that is, is also. Precious to me. And I think a lot of people get really kind of confused about truth and it's like, what is the truth? And I think one of the things that I had to realize was that there's kind of the, you know, the, the truth that lives inside of each of us that gets to be different from anybody else's and it gets to be sacred and it gets to be ours.
And I think it's a very, very. Special and important distinction to make. When, when you kind of give yourself those, I call it the bill of rights. I have the right to speak my truth in the face of no agreement. When, when everybody else is maybe not in agreement with my truth, I get, I still get to have it.
It still gets to be my truth. And in saying that it's not about having. Any closed doors to, to other considerations or other ways of being. But I think oftentimes in this society, we are forced into a box that often does not fit the truth of who we are. 
Truuth: Absolutely. 
Monica: Yeah, absolutely. So, so of course, as soon as we kind of talk about, you know, seeking my truth and speaking my truth, I immediately go to.
Okay. Then what I'm hearing under that is that there was a time that you actually had to hide that from the world and maybe even from yourself. And I wondered if you could talk about that. 
Truuth: Oh my gosh. Yes. I feel like, like I said, I just feel like I started to discover my truth over the past five or six years.
And I'm 29 years old. And so that means that a big chunk of my life has been and, you know, just rooted in something that was very foggy and unclear that I really, and wholeheartedly believed for a long time was, you know, my truth and was the way I should be living. And it's been mind blowing to, to like, kind of like de unpack all of that decolonize, all of that deconditioned, all of that, you know, and, and be like, wow, Well, I looking back on all of those experiences and actually being able to see how they were my tutor at all, but rather everyone else's the box that I was made to believe that I needed to be in, were full of.
what I like to call now that I've listened to one of your podcasts, scripts, you know, you've mentioned how we giving these scripts when we're. When right when we're born, what to say, how to live, what to do. And I feel like that was just another box that I was in. You know, where I did see a lot of, the patriarchy and just like under this guise of Christianity, which is, you know, can be very much aligned with sentiments of white supremacy and the sense of Danes like the man is in control and the woman needs to be silent and not speak and all of these different things.
And I just thought, I really thought at a point in my life that these were true, that these. That this was, this was the way to live and one regard and one aspect, just, this is just one example. And so I feel like, you know, for me, this experience of. Living in my truth and speaking my truth boldly and apologetically is very like refreshing.
It's, it's been an awakening for me and I've been reading a lot of James bow and the work of other black queer and trans people like myself. And one of the things that James Bond mentions that I love, and I always go back to over and over. It's kind of, like you said, you know about disagreements, this is paraphrased, but James Baldwin said, no, we can agree and disagree with one another, unless that, you know, disagreement is rooted and, and my, uh, my right to exist and in my humanity.
And so I think like, yeah, we can, you can speak in these truths. Also have to be done to some degree in a way that doesn't really, That, that really doesn't dictate someone else, humanity or way of living, especially when that doesn't cause harm to anyone. Um, so it's been, it's been a, it's not an experience it's been, just, I've been, it's been, you know, I've been mad at myself.
I've been sad because I've lost a lot of like friendships that, that were in those circles of what I thought was true. It's been also just like I said, rejuvenating as well. And I've been experiencing a lot of joy throughout this experience. And so it's just been, you know, Yeah. It's been a lot to talk about.
Monica: Yeah. Say, you know, I often talk fondly, even though, you know, it doesn't feel very fun sometimes, but of the paradox, it's just, it's this idea that all of these things get to coexist in the same space and that, you know, at the same time you can feel liberated, right? Like in the same time you can feel liberated and free.
You can also feel. Grief struck, you know, by, as you're speaking your truth. Oftentimes I always say, as we align, we become divine and that is this idea of, you know, I think that we're all. Born into the world to bring our unique gift. And so enough of the homogenization of everybody, it's such a, it's such an illusion that we should somehow try to, you know, conform because what we really I think want to do is to live the fullest expression of who we really are.
And sometimes the most painful, I think. A thing that happens when we kind of fall out of agreement, is that, you know, there's this illusion that we're kind of kicked out of the garden, you know, I'll, I'll kind of talk about like the garden of Eden for a minute, but when we really look more closely at it, we have the power to put ourselves right back in the garden, by aligning with our truth and knowing that.
By talking and sharing our truth. In some cases, yes. We're going to lose the people that are shooting on us are shaming us, but, you know, it's, it's, it really comes with a lot of wisdom and maturity to turn around and understand that that actually says more about where they're at, than it does about where we're headed and where we're at.
Yeah. Yeah, and I love, I love too how you really spoke so eloquently to the intersection of all of these isms, you know, and how Christianity upholds in many cases, white supremacy and that the people that. You love and the people that loved you were telling you that these things quote unquote are true.
And so what happens when we're not allowed to be who we are and we kind of are. Forced or what is forced upon us are these ways of being that don't, that don't align with our truth. We B we can tend to become very fractured. And so when I go back to kind of what you had to hide, and then what you ended up revealing, my understanding is that you were born into a male gendered body.
Correct. But that wasn't the essence of, of your spirit. 
Truuth: Yeah. And that's, you know, that's just a, that's my truth. That for me, because of, you know, the environments I grew up in and a lot of those beliefs who that came from Christianity really suppressed all of who I knew I always was. And so in a lot of ways, I was at a very young age, although being a non binary trans woman, Being a was forced to be this, this male, this male that at like I never was or felt like, and I, and I do there, I do believe that there is a lot of divine connections to my DNA and who I am between my mother and I, because I think I shared this with you.
I'm not sure, but my mom thought she was. You know, according to the world standards, having a little girl and my mom had decorated, you know, the, this bedroom for, for me, you know, quote unquote for a girl and, you know, have Pega that girl close quote unquote. And, and then, you know, I was born and they, so quote unquote, a boy.
So I feel like what my mother was thinking, you know? And during her entire pregnancy, just like, you know, being a mother may connected to her baby while carrying her, you know, those thoughts of even like, Oh, I'm having a little girl. Oh my gosh. I'm like my first girl, I've always wanted to say, Oh girl, my mom has always wanted a girl.
And she didn't think she got one until my little sister was born. But now that we've been talking about this more, she, she sees a lot of, you know, what I see and. And so yeah, when I was born, it was like, Oh my God. I just thought, you know, it's quote unquote, not a girl. And so I just believe there is a divine connection there that, that, that, that also at a young age made me feel like I was what I was.
It wasn't just, you know, like what the world's standards were of what a woman should be. And so I just remember, you know, throughout my childhood always wanting to be. Around women, always wanting to, you know, dress and, you know, dresses and skirts and Hills and wearing wigs and makeup. And I would have to do all of these things very secretly, you know, like no one could know, even though I always.
Knew everyone knew that I was queer because they would insult me back in the day. I saw it as an insult. You know, people would call me faggy or people would call me a girl, or I look like a girl, or I told like a girl. And during those moments, when I was younger, I used to feel ashamed and like, you know, like hurt and felt like, you know, like, wow.
But they knew and they could see it. And now I look back and just, I'm like, wow, they weren't wrong. 
Monica: Right. 
Truuth And so they were even able to see it in me and I just think it affirms everything that I always knew. And so I wanted to play with baby dolls. I wanted, you know, like, but, and you know, when I was around my grandmother and my mom, they allowed it, you know, and I think that was what gave me some, a little bit of space to like, be, to express my femininity because like I was doing hair and I was like, and I was like, you know, like, Play around with, and my grandmother's stuff, like make a while she was on her ways and she, and she'd always look at me funny, but I, you know, everyone always knew, like I said, and, and you know, this is, I think me and my mom even have a lot more to talk about.
So I'll just say that much. But I think, you know, growing up, I just. Even, you know, thinking about my dad, I was told I could not be a certain type of child and that I was supposed to be a man. You know, I was told a lot of things that I shouldn't have been told when I was a kid.That no young child shour hear in that no young boy or girl to show here or getting young young men shit here in regards to gender.
 And in regards to, sexuality in regards to any of that. Cause it was just, you know, in a lot of ways, presented it to me in a very toxic way at a very young age. And I already knew that I wanted nothing to do with any of that. And so I had to grow up in it knowing like, okay, I gotta beat this person.
You know, I found, uh, you know, certain people and. You know, it wasn't until I really was just like, like I said, over the past five or six years have been really outwardly able to express more about my gender and my sexuality and my identity. And, and so it's been liberating. I feel better. I feel healthier.
It's only going, gonna get better. You know, I've, I've taken a few steps to, to make my life happier on his journey or journey right now. And there are just so many more that I am taking that is only going to make it better. 
Monica: I agree. And I think too, like, I just love that we're we have the opportunity to really share this conversation with other people, because the last podcast that I recorded was with coral Brown and we talked a lot about these binaries that we live in and, you know, and gender is one of them and it's this either or black or white yes or no, right or wrong and heaven or hell and yeah.
You know, I think that we're really being. We're really being invited. And I, and I use that word invited because I think it's more like the social scripts that are often forced on us. And I think I feel this invitation really kind of energetically to enter more into. Just a reassessment, a re-evaluation an inventory of beliefs.
What we've been taught to believe. And in fact, quarrel had us do on our last episode and inventory of beliefs because oftentimes, you know, we can become adults and not realize that we have. We've been hanging on to beliefs that don't serve us, or we've been kind of existing in kind of a reality that we haven't necessarily turned to question turned to.
Turned into an inquiry. And I often think that I'm starting to recognize the wisdom in living in the questions because certainty doesn't offer room for anything. And I think more and more beautiful souls are being born into the world in this very fluid understanding of who they are and that. It cannot be contained and it will not be contained in other people's definitions.
And I, and I want to, I want to really celebrate that. 
Truuth: Yeah, absolutely.  I think that's true. I, I feel the same way I have. Oh said over and over again that I want to, you know, create a space where other people can also live in their truth and be their authentic selves. You know, that's, that's something that I wasn't always able to do, you know, for a very long time and it's not, it's not good.
It's not healthy. And it's sad to even witness and, you know, other. Parts of life that I, you know, cross because I, I see these things that I used to do and these places where I used to be. And it's, you know, it's wondering how to like, give, you know, inspire others to have that space and be free to do it in a way that's going to really allow them to thrive.
Monica: Yeah. And, and I understand that your, your work right now is really focused specifically on advocacy for women. And I wanted to, I wanted. I wanted to explore more about that with you. Like why, what are kind of some of the areas that you're really passionate about when it comes to advocacy for women? 
Truuth: Well, I think first of all, you know, female entrepreneurship enterprise, you know, I think of  also just some of the organizations like black mamas matter, which is  focuses on the.
Disproportionate rates, which, you know, black woman died on child labor or during pregnancy. And you know, how, you know, even where, you know, not made to, you know, be taken serious when expressing pain, you know, for example, telling black women that. You know, when they're in pain and medical offices or environments that, you know, they might not need as much medication because they're strong, which is a stereotype.
And therefore allowing the black woman, a woman of color to go through, you know, very traumatized and experiences, but pain. And, you know, there's just so many examples that I could talk about, but that's just two of the aspects that I want to focus on. And, you know, for. For me growing up in an area where I, I had to see a black woman go through lots of, lots of painful experiences, you know, due to the unjust systems and the environments they're left to fend for themselves.
And, and, , knowing that I have a way now to provide a voice for many of them, I have already started to do that. You know, there have been women reached out to me, thanking me for. Saying what I'm saying, because I understand what it means to we in a situation where sometimes yes, your silence is, uh, your survival.
And, but you know, the platform that I've created, you know, it has given other women, black women, specifically women of color, a way to, you know, for people in their communities to see like, wow, you know, this is something that we need to address. And this is something that we need to focus on  And nurture and grow and take care of.
And you know, like I said, not just women, but other, uh, queer black and Brown people and communities and our come from who just aren't able to be themselves right now because of their wellbeing and safety. But seeing what I have to say, you know, and it's a privilege for me to be able to see it, you know, here where I live at in a very liberal, very white space, you know, where a lot of.
Work is happening where a lot of what we call progression is happening. But, you know, there are those times where you can't speak and I, and I get that. So I do have this, this voice and this platform, and I want to be able to give, you know, other people who are going through or have gone through the same thing as me, a way to, to express themselves soon and to find corroboration and what I have to say.
Cause that's what. I've been able to do. And the people before me who have spoken specifically black people and Brown people, and, you know, I think that we just all need to do better and intersection of feminism and, you know, like, you know, there's a book called hood feminism and it talks about , that, you know, that aspect of black women being left out of this movement of what we call someone doesn't and how it really can't be called feminism.
If it doesn't include black and Brown women. And them being at the forefront as people who are impacted most by, by, you know, like Michael Madsen being the most disrespected and unprotected woman in America. And so, yeah, I just want to raise the awareness of all of these issues. And then just knowing that I, you know, not, you know, the things that I've gone through as a black woman, but also the things that I've seen my mom go through that I've seen my sister go through that.
I seen my aunts and grandmothers go through, you know, and, and just other women go through suits who aren't, you know, black and of Cola. And I think that's how we bring everyone together. It's talking about these experiences. Individually and talking about how we can come together, the solution and in a space that actually does work for everyone.
Monica:  You kind of just segwayed right into the next question that I have for you, which is your plan on creating more spaces for healing and growth. So I'd love to hear more about like, what, what is your vision and, and how do you see this. Becoming, you know, a conversation that grows and becomes more revealed, I guess, in, in the world and, and also more available to more people.
Truuth: So right now there are a couple of things that I'm working on actively to create those spaces. One of them is, you know, being appointed to the board of directors or the criminalized may. Which helps the stigmatize and decriminalize. And de-colonize the, the use of, you know  plant-based remedies  like mushroom and cannabis, and being able to have spaces where black and Brown people can come into these spaces and, and have access to those.
Those same things that other people have access to, but who don't have to get the scrutiny and, you know, policing for doing those same things, which is where the, the inequality and racism comes in, you know? And so I want to be able to provide a space for, for all black people, but specifically women, you know, I have people who I'm working with and who I'm talking with.
It was also creating spaces  who you know, working on creating a space for black women could come in and have safe births. And, you know, in the, you know, maybe the comfort of their home, you know, they  are also non binary. So it's really nice to have someone who's a black woman, who's non binary, and who's going into the medical field to kind of highlight that.
And her, and I have always been talking about just collaborating one day, you know, maybe once they opened up a clinic, you know, and with my nursing background, being able to like build something bigger here in may of that sort. And so, you know, really healthcare and I think, you know, that's the big topic for, for black woman and of course for all women.
And I just think that again, wants, when we talk about the Muslim, we have to. So acknowledge those disparities because if we don't where to me that's just not true feminism. And the other thing that I am doing as a lot of dance and body movement that involves a lot of black women or black films and other people of color combination of a historical black films called Jason.
And then another style called.  like pose or drag. And so just having those people who are not represented, who are marginalized, be, be brought to the forefront and be recognized for, for their skill and talent as well. And so I just think I'm, I'm creating a lot of spaces, whether it's through  performers are or visual art or healing spaces for all black people and people of color to come together with the focus on women.
And so it's just, it's been, you know, it's been slow because of COVID, but it's happening. And we've been doing some dancing here and there. It's not photography here and there. We've been doing some work through a company called good medicine. It's focuses on wellness and holistic health. There's just a lot of things happen as, so, you know, it's just.
Also, I try to keep up with everything. 
Monica: Right. I know. I know, but I want to, I want to kind of circle back to a couple of different things that you said here. Cause it is really interesting. And I want to make sure that, you know, I'm not making assumptions on my end, you know? I listened to when you talked about the medical marijuana and the use of mushrooms.
And I know for example, that Maine is a state that allows and does, so it's decriminalized the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes, is that correct? 
Truuth: Yeah. Yeah. And you know, and just, and recreational, you know, I think. It's an art project that I'm working on slowly, where I'm going to call a lot of attention to these disparities.  You know, like feeling like people, you know, are just kind of living their last kind of welcome by and not bandits on what the reality, like, you know, we have people incarcerated who have possession of cannabis  very small amounts and, you know, are still incarcerated. Well, w you know, consumers here, you know, locals just kinda go about their lives, you know?
Consuming that same, uh, same thing that someone else got locked up for, not, and not using their voice or privileged to say anything. And so I think for me just to live in a space like this and not be able to say anything is, you know, like my silence, isn't going to help anyone. So I think as an, you know, as an artist and as an activist, I want to bring attention to even.
You know that issue, which I'm already in the process of doing, you know, through, with decriminalize Nate and collaboration, with the art project, where I'm just collecting a lot of the jars that people get their cannabis dismissing, and I'm going to do, you know, kind of a project with those jars and, you know, kind of calling attention to the fact that, you know, corporate greed is as planned out every single day when we, when we feed into this.
And I know that we don't always have a choice. And I think as we go into those spaces, we have to at least acknowledge. These disparities, these injustices, any and initiate these conversations,  whether it's with the cashiers at the dispensary or the people who are just purchasing. And you're not acknowledging the fact that.
You know, where where's our silence, serious violence, that if we don't see anything, nothing is going to be done. And I think a lot of times we can just be wrapped up in our own world and not care, but that's again, that's why I don't, I want to bring attention to that. And that's just one, one way that I'm already in the process of doing that is through my art.
So hopefully we'll be able to show how like that sooner people will be able to see the hair. A lot of what I have to say in regards to cannabis and just kind of, again, decriminalizing. And you thought, man, talking about the injustices that exist while we remain silent 
Monica: well, and then I'll, you know, what I'm making up over here is that, and I know some of this is in fact true, but some of the other problems and issues that you were alluding to earlier, which is, you know, pain management and how it's very different for black folks in our, you know, public health care system and trauma.
Like when you think about. The trauma that has been inflicted,  through these disparities. And then you have people actually using, you know, a substance such as marijuana for those ver to treat those very disorders because they can't. Either they can't get seen or heard in the medical system or they're not getting the proper attention and then they get put in jail for it, or, you know, so, so there's so many, there's so many collapsed issues on top of that.
And so many intersecting issues. And I think, again, what you're pointing to is the, the lack of awareness of the complexity of all of these different. Disparities. What I also want to point back to here is just your definition of feminism and really be clear with our audience about what your definition of feminine feminism is.
And I'm on the same page here as I kind of hear you describing what feminism is to you. But it's really interesting because feminism has gotten a bad rap, I think. And I'm just like, how, how could you not be a feminist? Everybody should be a feminist, you know? And so I just kind of wanted you to, to just, just give, if you don't mind, just  an overview of your, how, how do you define or  explain feminism?
Truuth: Yeah.  I think that it goes back to. The just star country's history. I think when we talk about like, where do we even begin the patriarchy? And I think like, You know, seeing the division that played out over the course of time and starting with, you know, I think when we talk about what people had to do to survive is what I hear a lot.
In response to how history has played out in regards to white women, you know, standing in solidarity with black women throughout the history of, you know, black women being oppressed. And disadvantage and, you know, just  excluded from, from a lot of their human rights. And you know, it wasn't enough just to be treated that way by, you know, the white man, the, you know, the patriarchy or just, you know, even white women, but amongst their own, you know, that's something that we don't talk about a lot because we, again are.
Conditioned to stay in these places and to stay solid. And instead believe that this is the way, because this is why everyone is sandwiched and do, but I want to be a, you know, a psycho worker, I want to break those cycles. So that generations after me, don't have to say silent and can say that someone before them spoke about these issues and raise the awareness of them at a, at a time.
Whereas some you know, people might say we should stay silent about a lot of these things. And so, you know, I think that for me, you know, it's, I think we have to go back to the book called hood feminism, which just talk about the communities and the demographics that are left behind and the movement of what we call feminism here in America.
You know, specifically focusing on black and Brown and, you know, I think, you know, there's a lot resources out there that can teach us about a lot of these things. A lot of films, a lot of movies, and I'm like, why don't, you know, you can see the, even the, the divide between, uh, black women based off of colorism.
And that's again, rooted in white supremacy where people with lighter skin couldn't get further in life than darker skinned women. And how, you know, just the different levels of harm that can even come from women towards other women who are basically at the bottom of the totem pole. And so I think, you know, when we see these things play out, we have to, we have to question them and address them.
But a lot of the times we don't, and that's why they're sustained for, you know, years and years and years and years. And again, I want to break those cycles.  I want to, I don't want, I, you know, my, I have a little sister, I have little cousins, female cousins. I have little people looking up to me, you know, and  this world where women are just being mistreated on all levels.
Even over the past four years with, with his presidency, which was just a mess  , is something that I want my generation of women that are coming at me to be ready for it, to be able to speak up, I guess, at a very young age, you know, like. My sister's 15. I have a niece, you know, who's seven, you know, I have, I have a nephew.
I want, I want them to know that they don't have to say silent about these, these issues. And so,  again, I'm giving voice their voices, you know, amplification through just being in my platform or even writing something or sharing a video or some sort of content. That they can see that they might not be able to like articulate and their communities.
And so it's, it's a way I know that I'm actually bringing something to a community  based off of my lived experiences there. And so, yeah, just, I want to keep going. 
Monica: Yeah. I li I love that. Thank you for that. I love that so much. So, you know, I'm trying to think, like there's so many different things that I want to.
Like ask you or talk about, but I'm wondering if there's something right now that you're specifically working on. I want to. That you want to kind of share with us. And I want to say this too, that, you know, since we started kind of connecting on Facebook and, and I learned about you through Megan, Joe Wilson, I just really loved watching you and the various.
The various expressions that you, that you work through. And one of those is music and singing, and of course, then there's art work and then there's your modeling. And there's so many different ways that you really have made visibility. And you're daring to express yourself in these very visible ways, part of your activism.
And I wondered if you could. Talk about that and, or share something that you're working on right now that you want to tell us about. 
Truuth: Yeah. So I  I'm working on a couple of things. One of the things that I'm working on is I started a, a podcast. With my partner called cookies and cream. I love that 
Monica: cookies and cream.
The reason I'm laughing is because is because my partner at that was my, my business partner. That was her nickname for me. She would call me. Cookies and cream. And I kind of blush when she says it, because I know she would, she would be, she would be eluding to the fact that like, she's just like, I could listen to you all day.
And I'm saying that blushing and smiling, because like, who am I to brag about this? But, but I am, but I will brag, you know, because I just loved it. I loved it. She was like, I could just get some cookies and dip them in milk. And that would be you. And I just was like, that's so precious. So anyway, I had to tell that little story.
So, so tell me more about cookies and cream. 
Truuth: So yeah, cookies and cream is a blog that me and my partner started this year  with, uh, focusing on topics of interracial dating and anti-racism and being queer and trans and non-binary, and being able to talk about some of the challenges and some of the victories that we.
Kind of go through and our journey as an interracial couple and our racial trans anti-racist couple. And, you know, we wanted to provide insight to people who might not have some of the experiences that we've gone through as very outspoken activism about white supremacy, about police brutality, about transphobia homophobia.
And a lot of people are, you know, really, really open to hearing what we have to say. We've already gotten emails, people asking about consulting with us. So. You know, it's just like already going, going so well. We've had it running for less than a week. And so we created our first log recently. It was, it was called my black body cannot be purchased and neither can black love.
And we were talking about classes on there and just, you know, a little bit about. Wealthy white people and how the division that's already existing is only being straight. And by, you know, the, the hoarding of wealth and the refusal to acknowledge the racism that is taking place right here in our community is turning a blind eye to it, turn on a blind ear to it, which is not then helpful for black and Brown communities.
And so. It's going, it's going great. You know, we are going to be doing some other, some other artwork that involves dancing. Like I said, using JSS and you know, some drag and pose. That's going to be a variety of black and Brown men and women and other black and Brown humans. And just really. Focusing on really black trans women, because even amongst black women, black trans women, we die at disproportionate rates.
And, you know, it's, it's because people will take our identities for a joke it's because they don't believe that very well we're there that we are real women and that we'd all deserve to live. And I'm just so glad that there is starting to be more talk about it, more representation in the media about it.
And I'm currently doing a art project on  the highlight of black trans woman with the focus on Marsha P Johnson, who I just did a photo shoot modeling photo shoot on  in honor of her. And so I have a ton of beautiful photos and that I'm going to use to create, you know, whether it's some sort of mural or collage, that's going to be on display probably during black history month of 2021.
And so I have a three week guest artists, guest residency coming up in February, and I plan to use that time to display some of my work. And then I'm also going to incorporate  just some of the, the drag culture by hopefully having a group of us black or Brown people do some dance, that will be filmed and then display and a kind of a glass window here in downtown Portland so that people can walk by and see that we are here to see that we.
Now was a black trans woman, black and Brown queer communities do exist. And that way right here, that when your neighbors, that people who are trying to marginalize us further and we won't be silenced and that will just continue to raise our frequency. And so, and then, yeah, and also working on. Some, some writing, some writing, some music, you know, so I have a lot of just different variety of things going on, whether it's dance, music, performance.
And so I'm just can I do take a little bit at a time and slowly, slowly size reveal. I started my Patreon writing more and so I have a lot going on, but I'm hoping that this, this pandemic will smooth out and next year sometime. And that we can, we can start seeing more of each other's work and hearing more of each other's voices.
And, and I'm just, I'm looking forward to it. I have a good feeling about next year and I just can't wait to share more and more. 
Monica:  Yeah. And I just love, I got to tell you, it just warms my heart so much because as someone who I always think back to like the days when God bless my dad's heart, right. He was just.
Like, so, you know, again, patriarchy I'll, I'll say but you know, he was like, you're never going to find a good husband in art school. Right. Cause like, I really, I had the heart of an artist. Right. And so it's just this way. I think that, again like that. All of these different modes of expression for you?
The, the written word, the  you know, the dance, the photography, the modeling the music, the, the mixed media. It's just, there's. It's it's. Just really  so important. And there's a way that I really can hear how prolific you are in your expression. And I love that so much truth because it is by you continuing to speak your truth and that.
I think this is the reason that people, because it's because of people like you, who dare to dare to speak the truth, who dare to be your own sovereign being and, you know, take up your own agency and really share from your heart that creates the connection. And through your expression, other people are, see it starting to sink in.
And I think there are a lot of people out that are out there that are hungry for a deeper understanding, but they don't necessarily know how to ask for it or they feel. Even ashamed that they don't know more. And again, I encourage everybody to dive right into the mess because the masses where we get to ask questions and where we get to bump up against people's emotions and interpretations, and it gets to be messy because in order for something new to be born in order for us to really kind of.
Collectively come together and start to unify and understand each other. We have to endure that, that messy gritty place. And I just, again, want to honor you for all that you do truth all that you do to bring activism and awareness and love. Cause you really, what I'm hearing behind all of this is just a strong, strong.
Source of love in you. And, and I just, I'm so blessed and honored that you joined us today. I'd love to have you in these next few minutes. Just tell people where they can find. You online. So, you know, with that, please do tell us where, where can our listeners find you on Facebook and on Patreon, if you've got those URLs, I'd love you to share them.
Truuth: Yeah. So you can find me on Facebook  at truth speaks true this spelled with two years. So it's T R U U T H speaks. You should be able to find it just by typing that in. And then I can also  share the  URLs once you guys later. Or you can also find me on Instagram at troop speaks two Oh seven and  truth is though the regular way.
Monica:  Okay. So you didn't get the w there. Okay. 
Truuth:  T R U T H. So yeah.  Truth speaks two Oh seven or Instagram. And , I  have started a Patreon, which you can find through my Instagram as well. So there's a link there in the bio and yeah. Yeah. That's, uh, that's pretty much it there. 
Monica: And if you wanted to just leave our listeners with any kind of last words, you know, what would, you know, if, if we were to have some listeners here who.
Are listening from a place of like, yeah. You know, I've been hiding my true identity. What would you say to them? 
Truuth: I would say, yeah. I would say that whatever, whatever you feel on the inside that you should just really just say it's I know it sounds, you know, like something bizarre, like it's a scary thing to do, but.
Really, you know, that's where it starts is just saying it it's, it's like, you know, that was where a lot of my hearts and myself came as being silent about things that I felt on the inside, things that I knew I wanted to like say, and, you know, just, you know, embracing things that I wanted to do that I couldn't do.
And so it's really just starting to do those things, like stepping out somewhere on the faith and just being like, I'm going to do this. And you just have to think that you're just as important as everyone else, you know, like if someone's trying to like, to like knock you down during this time of you trying to like rise up, you just kind of, I really like, you know, you know, like hold them accountable, but like you're in LA you're, you're not entitled to tell me who I am.
You're not allowed to write my narrative. You're not, you know, this is my truth and I'm going to live in and just reclaiming that and on and up to that, and I know it's not easy to do, but it's really just a stepping out on faith and doing it. I had a lot of people believe in me. And I think that's another thing is, you know, having community people to support you throughout your journey, it's it's so, you know, it can be very lonely and painful to try to do  something as, as a.
Oh, to speak in your truth on, you know, hourly and, and having to go through that alone without having any community across the same intersection for you. So I, I definitely believe in and building a community. I cannot thank you enough for the support of other. They have shown me. I could not. Do it without them.
And, and that's one of the things I want people to know is that I am part of that community that can create space for their voices to be, even if they can't do so on their own or if they can do so in their own spaces. And so. Some people have given me that space to, to elevate my voice. Yeah. I just want to have a sense of the generations that have come in after me and two other people can find and hoping this version if I worked in words.
Monica: Yeah. And, and I, I, I really go back to what you said before, you know, silence is violence and it's true. Whether it's silence on the inside or silence on the outside, we're either doing that violence to ourselves. Or we're, we're, we're complicit in our violence or the violence done against others. When we see something that's happening and we don't use our voices or our privileged to.
To stop it to, to rise up to say, no, I love to what you said about, you know, you're, you're not allowed to write my narrative and it, and that is true too, right? Like we, there's a way that we often give our power away when we remain silent. And it's very, very important that everybody who's listening to this and really all of us everywhere are being living true to our own story.
And that we're. We're living the story that we, we want to tell and that, and we want to be told, right? It's, it's also our legacy. And, you know, unless we're kind of aligned with our truth, we're not going to find our tribe. We're not cause our vibe attracts our tribe. And I think in order there's a reason.
That our voice is got a resonance to it. Cause there's a vibratory essence in our voice. And when we speak truth, we attract, you know, the people who are belonged to us and who, and, and that's how we find our people. That's how we find our sense of belonging and start to really navigate and explore those places.
W w. That often we've been running or hiding from because somehow we've been shamed into believing that we should be somebody that we're not. And so I've loved again, I have loved this conversation with all of my heart and to those of you listening, we'll be sure to invite truth on for deeper conversations than other times time.
But in the meantime, thank you truth. And. More to be revealed.
We hope you enjoyed this episode. For more information, please visit us@jointherevelation.com and be sure to download our free gift, subscribe to our mailing list or leave us a review on iTunes. We thank you for your generous listening and as always more to be revealed.