afropunk bk soldier of the day: briana boyd

AFROPUNK ARMY is the central hub for volunteering, social justice, awareness and action. AP ARMY acts as a catalyst for social movements and organizations tackling critical issues dismantling our communities globally.

Name: Briana Boyd
Age: 26
What gender pronoun do you prefer? She/her/hers
City: Brooklyn
List your Instagram handle: @brianapearl_
Quick, give us 3 hashtags that describe you: #kind #strong #introspective
Name one of your hidden talents and/or secret skills that no one would ever guess you had: My hidden talent, like a lot of Black women, is my ability to endure.
What does AFROPUNK mean to you? To me, AFROPUNK represents me and people like me. It’s a community that accepts all but at its core is a home for “misfits”or outliers of the Black community. It’s an entity that validates the joys, struggles and creative nature of its community whether that’s on the web or at our festivals.
What does #WESEEYOU mean to you? #WESEEYOU is the public acknowledgement of your existence, your culture, and your narrative. It’s meaningful because today I think many of us feel misunderstood and/or unseen.
What was your last revolutionary act? I’m very into punk and hardcore and often I’m one of maybe 2-3 other Black people at a show. Earlier this month, I went to a hardcore show in Boston by myself and knew that my presence was confusing/unfamiliar to a lot of the audience. Sometimes revolutionary acts are small.
What or who do you fight for? Why? I fight for my community and I fight to de-stigmatize mental health through sharing stories from my life.
When Mercury is in reggaeton, how do you protect your peace? I try to listen to myself. When my body/mind tells me what it wants, I listen. Sometimes that’s pizza, other times it’s meditation or getting my hair done.
What does being unapologetically Black mean to you? Being unapologetically Black means living in my truth and not letting anyone define me or tell me what to be. It means being myself 24/7.
Describe your journey with AFROPUNK. How have you used AP as a microphone for your passions, interests and/or service? My journey is very interesting! I was an Artist Relations volunteer for the 2016 fest and recently became assistant to one of AFROPUNK’S Co-CEOs.
Who is your favorite woman in herstory — past or present? Nina Simone.
What does a safer space look like to you? I feel that none of us are free until all of us are free. A safer space includes all members of the Black community including those at the intersection of the LGBT community. It’s a place where the threat of violence and anger is minimal if not non-existent.