Creative of the Week: Sola Olosunde
Hiiiiii friends, today I'm back with another piece of Feature Friday! I'm very very excited to be writing this article on such a prolific and knowledgeable Black man. He's recently worked with New York Times to discuss the thorough research he does, which mainly includes documenting events of Black men and women in the 1900's. Many of these moments he captures and discusses are unknown to many, but are notable experiences in history.
His work is truly commendable and respected by so many people including myself. It's amazing to see the history, Black history brought back to life by him. With that being said... I want to introduce you all to Sola!
Interview
Me: "Hey guys. I'm here today to dig into the mind of a true gem in New York. I've been following him on Twitter for a minute now and I'm always interested in what he's tweeting about. He talks about a wide range of topics including the everyday Black man and woman in New York, youth in different boroughs, riots, gangs, parades, celebrations, wars and so much more. Soooo, let's dive in and get to know the man behind the tweets (and more)!
Hello hello! For starters please tell us your preferred name, age, where you were born, background, and where you are currently living."
Sola: "My name's Sola Olosunde, I'm 24, born in Brooklyn, New York living in Far Rockaway, and I'm Nigerian."
Me: "Okay, cool cool. So let's just get right into it. How and why did you get into researching black socialites / people from different time periods? Who do you do it for? Also is there inspiration for starting your research?"
Sola: "I've always been into history and learning more about the past. I grew up watching lots of TV land and Boomerang when my family got cable. Good Times, I Love Lucy, Popeye, Tom & Jerry, all that good stuff. I started doing research in college, since I have my undergraduate degree in History, I already knew by the time I was halfway through high school I wanted to be a History professor. So when I got to college, I just started taking very specific history classes and doing lots of research at different CUNY libraries. I really did the research for myself at first in order to make sure I was familiar with any event or trend in history. But I wanted to share what I learned with friends and people I know in order for them to see why I thought history was so cool. People often asked me why I study History. 'It's so boring.' So I tried to figure out ways to get others to like the subject. I guess it worked. Absolutely no one inspired me to do this."
Me: "Yes, history definitely isn't always the most interesting subject! But the fact that you're able to research topics most people don't know about or aren't educated about in middle school or high school makes what you do so much more special and interesting. You talk about events people would love to hear about and probably didn't know they had any interest in until you bring it up. You definitely have created a very unique lane and that's amazing.
The next question I have for you, Sola, what's been the most interesting thing you've learned about Black New York City culture during your research?"
Sola: "One of the most interesting things I've learned is how long West Indians have been in New York. They started to come here in the 1890's due to failing economies in Caribbean states. They were known to be enterprising and there was tension between Black Americans, as they were considered snobbish toward them. A woman from Martinique, Stephanie St. Clair, ran a huge gambling ring in Harlem during the early 20th century. Another West Indian named Casper Holstein from St. Croix also ran a numbers racket, and was a philanthropist for numerous Black causes and organizations. Hugh Heydorn, a Guyanese immigrant, was a real estate broker who played a huge role in developing the Black neighborhoods in Queens we know of today. The West Indian Day Parade started back way back in the 40's in Harlem! I just never knew how far the West Indian community went back in NYC, and lots of things make more sense knowing that they came around the same time many Southerners did."
Me: "Wow, I honestly have only known about the West Indian Day Parade for about 3 years now. So to know how this all came about, back to the 1940's is really fascinating. That's amazing that they were able to carry this celebration for 80 years now. Wow...
So Sola next I ask, what do you hope to gain from this research, if anything?"
Sola: "I simply hope to gain knowledge about my city and my people. I just want to be one of the best at what I want to do, and create things for everyone to learn from."
Me: "Well you definitely have far more knowledge than anyone I know, and I'm sure many people can say the same. That's really something to be proud of. Big shout out to you!
What are some goals and ambitions you see for yourself? From putting in the time and doing this research."
Sola: "I want to own my own brownstone. That's probably the one life goal I have. If i can buy one and afford its upkeep, I'll be fine for life. I've always wanted to get a PhD so I can be considered an "expert." But I gotta remember that you shouldn't allow institutions to define how legit you are. You can be a genius in history without school. The library is free."
Me: "That's definitely a fact. And you seem to have far more knowledge wider than the scope of your time in school. I can tell it's truly just a passion and the eagerness to educate yourself. We love that for you!!!
So now that we've discussed some of your research and history findings, I know you're also into photography, specifically loving the self timer(check out his IG yall, foreal)... how and why did you get into photography? Also adding to that, do you prefer photography or your research?"
Sola: "I got into photography as a way to document both my life and Brooklyn, which was changing rapidly as I was becoming an adult (and still is). I've done a lot of cool shit in my life, to be honest. It frustrated me that i had no photos of what my friends and I were getting into. What Brooklyn was in 2010 was SO different from what I saw Brooklyn turn into five years later. It used to break my heart when I'd walk past somewhere and forget what was there before, so I wanted a film camera to make a scrapbook of these photographs. One summer afternoon in 2017, my brother rode past a guy who was selling a bunch of film cameras for like $10. So I bought one and the rest is history.
I mean, I like both (photography and history) for different reasons. I guess documentation is compiling research though, which is why I take photographs. They both inform each other. Because of my appreciation for history, I started to take pictures. And the pictures I aim to take are usually taken to document what me and my people are doing these days, so future generations can see what went on around this time."
Me: "Ahh okay okay, so both the photography and history intertwine with one another. I like that answer. And to hear more in depth on why you take these pictures makes it even better. It all comes around full circle; great explanation! I'm really enjoying this. I love getting inside people's mind and understanding why they do things and how they do it. This is great.
My next question, if you could work with anyone for a shoot or do some research with who would it be?"
Sola: "For a shoot? Hmm, I'm not sure. I still want to do something really... suggestive, if you will. Like a sex party or something. I love shooting parties. Rihanna would be cool. I'd do some cool self-timed stuff with her.
As far as research goes, I don't aspire to do research with anyone anymore. Those who I asked before didn't have the time to when I was a teenager so it's fuck everyone. I don't care about your degrees or teaching position anymore. They only care when they see people on your dick anyway."
Me: "This is facts! You seem to have all the information you need on your own so I understand where you're coming from. And to the suggestive photo shoot, I am here for it! Lol, I'd love to see something 'risque' like that. People would be interested in something like that for sure. I love that concept.
So onto our next topic, style. I've always loved your look. I think it's unique and specific to you. How would you describe your sense of style/ aesthetic?"
Sola: Thank you! Well, I guess I call it clean. I never really know what to call it. People call it a 70's type style, so I just go with what the people say. But my style is just generally vintage, grown man shit. If I'm not on sites like Etsy, I'm at a men's shop on Fulton where the oldheads buy their gear from. Most style inspiration comes from pictures of old New York and what I remember older people wearing when I was little. So I feel like, if anything, is very influenced by New York City."
Me: "Lol I can definitely see why they say 70's vibe, but yes your look is really its own. The influence of NYC is also shown, too. Do you have a favorite or 'go to piece' in your closet?"
Sola: "A favorite piece... if sneakers count, my white Chucks. They go with everything. My wardrobe changes with the seasons, so right now I just got these white short shorts I got on ebay that I really love. People need to make these more. I'm tired of wearing those ugly ass shorts that touch your knee."
Me: "Yess white chucks are a necessity; I need to get my pair. They're really timeless. And the shorts lol! We love seeing black men in short shorts so I agree with you on that.
Okay so we've discussed your style, photography and a dash of history. I always like asking my interviewees this question to sort of reflect on the love we should have for ourselves, and just reminding ourselves who the fuck we are. So, I ask... what would you consider to be your best feature?
Sola: "My mind, because I think really different from lots of people. Most people, really. I'm not an arrogant person, but I do think I'm a person everyone in the city can learn a great deal from. I'm not saying I have all the answers, I'm very honest about not knowing things but I do feel like I have things to show and say that can compel lots of people. I like my facial hair too. That may be random but I really like everything about it and I'm not sure why God made it grow like this, but it definitely gives me a very unique look."
Me: "Okay the mind and facial hair! Lol, two diverse answers but both make sense. The facial hair definitely adds to your overall look. And the mind, of course. That goes without saying for me!
So, next question Sola. As my readers know I always interview creatives which I consider you as. With that being said, how does it feel to be a Black creative in New York City? A black man at that."
Sola: "Being a young black creative in New York City has its ups and downs. You gotta work as hard as possible because there's so many people here who are just as good at whatever you do. You gotta make yourself special from others. Plus, we gotta forge connections in spaces that aren't always inclusive, or don't feel inclusive. That's really the issue with segregation out here. Black people here are so talented, but it's very easy to grow up knowing no white people even though they be controlling damn near whole industries. So if you wanna get into something like say, art dealing or even becoming a painter, it will definitely be hard for someone with no connections to such an industry."
Me: Yall, he said they be controlling damn near whole industries... isn't that something? Majority of the creatives I meet and are close with are Black with an enormous amount of talent, so for white people to still be the ones 'in control' in a sense, can be very frustrating. But in the end it's really a push for us to become the ones on top and create a lane for ourselves.
Anyways, because I'm sure we can go on a whole long tangent about that topic, I have one last question for you Sola, which I ask all my interviewees. If you could leave the people reading with any words of encouragement, as we're figuring out the next steps of our lives, what would it be?"
Sola: "Make sure to stand out, and always care about the next man because we all need each other. Educate yourself, don't leave it to anyone else to teach your ass anything at your big age."
Well there you go guys and gals! This interview with Sola was definitely a favorite of mine and I learned a lot from him and about him with his responses. I hope you all did too. His knowledge and poise at the age of 24 is truly commendable. There's not many people doing what he does, with such valuable information on our communities. He is really one-of-one and you all should take his words of encouragement to heart! Be one of a kind and don't get discouraged when you see people in your field excelling. Only you can be you, and do the things you do!
I'm going to leave some links to some other work of Sola's that you may find interesting after getting to know him through this interview. He's been featured on iHeart radio , the news and the New York Times, dropping some valuable insight on our people and more. You all including myself can learn a lot from this young man, foreal!
As always, I thank you all for tuning in and hope you all took away something of knowledge from this man. Talk to you guys soon!
Links to Sola's podcast and interviews:
