The who what when where why & how of this newsletter
The who —
I mean y’all know me (at least the ones who I imagine are kicking this off with me do) but also, I am a fluid being. I have selves for different spaces and I cherish that adaptability. So I want to be very clear who I am bringing to this space that I hope to curate here on substack.
My name is Obella Obbo. My pronouns are he & him. I am a 2nd generation Ugandan-American queer Black man. I am a DEI(B,J,etc) professional with a background in mental health. I received my masters in clinical psychology from Loyola university in 2017. Throughout and after that program I worked across a variety of social impact spaces like low-income at-risk youth college prep programs, child respite care programs, domestic violence shelters, and “elite” university multicultural affairs offices; then as a consultant (a word that has no meaning but we’ll get to that later) I worked across a wide range of industries including urban planning, communications media, advertising agencies, finance firms, business management consultants, and tech incubators; currently I work as a learning experience designer for an inclusion firm.
I am also a nerdy protopian dreamer waging war with the huge imposter syndrome sitting inside of my very large personality, which ultimately generates - in addition to my ADHD - a human being who: reads a lot (of especially comics), who listens to A LOT of music (and the words of other people), who likes to be outside in the warmth moving his body, who likes to cook (& eat), but more than anything; a person who likes to talk (HA!) maybe to my detriment… and write (which is just talking tbf)… and create. Which brings me to:
The what —
I’m going to talk lol. By writing. What about? uuuhhhhhh you ever seen that Ray Bradbury quote (you did if you were on my MySpace page back in 2007)?
“I just want someone to hear what I have to say. And maybe if I talk long enough, it’ll make sense.”
That.
I got a lot of feelings. And even more thoughts and opinions about them. And if I can be so bold as to sayyyyyyyy, I think they are quite unique and have value??? I would like to offer them to those who are interested in receiving them.
I have always tried to offer others the opportunity to be who they are without judgement. I have always felt keenly aware of the shame and fear that obstructs people (myself included) from being the most authentic versions of themselves. I made it my life’s purpose to figure out why these things held so much control over our actions, and what we (and the world) might be if we were to let them go. And I’ve…learned things???? lol.
So I want to share that knowledge by funneling it through my interests. Use it as a lens to examine things that I love and don’t love about art, culture, personhood, and anything else. I’ll use this substack space for essays and updates and stories and thoughts in a variety of different ways. I have been thinking of so many different ways to play with the design and structure to serve the message so I make no promises to what it will look like but what it will be is me - talking. Lol.
The when —
iiiiiiiiiiimma say once a month.
I’ve been sitting on this for a long while. I have SO MANY ideas 50+% complete in my brain. The distance between them and the tangible world is a lil discipline, a lil focus and burning desire. And I got about 1/3 of those on lock. Knock on mfkn wood tho, I think I have a good pace going right now. I’m feeling very present in my body and energy. I am riding a really powerful Bokor Bokor vibe and so what I am really saying is that imma produce as I go and let it ebb & flow as it will… but I’m hoping for at least once a month.
It’s also just nice to get this shit outta my brain for once. Like let’s clear up some space in there you know?
The where —
Here. Duh. I like substack. I’ve enjoyed what different creators that I love have been doing on here and I wanna give it a shot but, you know, we’ll see what happens. Here - as long as it’s fun and morally sustainable
The why —
So remember when I said I’ve learned things? What I’ve learned is that the systems and structures that have been built around our world today stand on a foundation of white settler colonialism, white supremacy, capitalism, racism, sexism, homophobia, fear mongering, and so much more nasty shit. Those structures were built to make it easy to sit in our suffering, and accept less than we deserve. I’ve learned that those structures do not like being ignored; that pushing back against those systems comes with adversity. That adversity will look like shame, invalidation, fear, anxiety, depression, anger, and everything in between.
So the why is me trying to challenge that within (and for) myself by creating things that help me process those feelings aloud.
I’ve learned that we were built to be broken. And learning that radicalized me. I’ve also learned that there is a path of wellness that makes space to acknowledge the harm we’ve endured and release it so that we can grow fuller, love freer, and live healthier. I believe we can be better for having been broken, if we aren’t afraid to be vulnerable and say that we are. And I’ve learned that that is a radical belief.
So the why is also that I am here to heal my shit lol.
The how —
By being radical and empathic (hence the name) while having fun, and making things, and using them to interact with people so that I can learn and gain new perspectives and share them and continue to become new versions of myself everyday. AND reacting to each (new and old) version of me as if they are wholly and completely and divinely worthy.
Hope you get a little crazy with me :)