An Unapologetic Artist on the Mindset Of Slavery & Setting Herself Free: Gabrielle Ledet
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- čas přidán 5. 03. 2017
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“I can just talk? Say what I want? Cool,” says artist Gabrielle Ledet with a warm grin as she settles in for our interview, draped in an oversized denim shirt with “White People Stop Stealing Our Shit” hand-painted across the back. The button-down is Gabrielle own design and it, like a lot of her work-- slogans illustrated on clothes, walls, even her beat-up Kia Rio-- is the culmination of a long journey, both artistic and personal. Growing up, Gabriele recounts being bullied at school about her dark brown skin, so much so that she attempted to physically scrub it off and ended up with sores on her face. It wasn’t until an aunt explained to her that skin was “chocolate and cute” that she began to see the fullness of her being, exactly as it was, as beautiful. Her discovery of Basquiat, too, deeply affected her self-perception. “To see him in the way he dressed, he was unapologetic with everything. He just did it. I had never seen a black person as free and as abstract as him.” Now, Gabriele sees her work and her liberation as not only an act of self love, but also as an example for other kids who look like her. “We live in America. It’s racist as fuck,” she says with her characteristic lucidity and a twinkle in her eye. “Either we’re gonna talk about the racism, or we’re gonna create something beyond this shit.”
Add Gabrielle on Instagram: / the.eleventh.eyelash
Thank you to Ace Hotel New Orleans for providing us with a location to film Tank’s episode!
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StyleLikeU is led by mother-daughter duo Elisa Goodkind and Lily Mandelbaum, who are bound by the desire to uncover what’s underneath personal style. Through candid, docu-style interviews with empowered individuals, StyleLikeU is building a world where getting dressed each morning is an act of self-love.
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Produced by Elisa, Lily, and Mona
Edited by Kirsten Johnson - Jak na to + styl
shes the fucking sun herself. she's absolutely ebullient, her words, her voice, her skin, the love that pours from her eyes and her smile. jesus humanity can be fucking gorgeous, though i forget it often.
heaven sleeps in her eyes, they're so beautiful
thats such a cute and unique compliment 😪
haha well, I mean it
Really appreciating these interviews with black women. THANK YOU!
I totally agree, have never been to America but from what I hear it is crazy racist.. It is so important to be having this kind of conversation :)
azucarcult i'm just sitting here educating myself with their beautiful stories and it's an honor
azucarcult ditto!! also I have those same draws 😂
She'd be customizing every piece in her wardrobe to her liking. Omg I love it!
That hair is pure Gold.
she is so amazing wow!!!!! being unapologetically Black and free is where i wanna be in the next 10 years or i just wanna get to that point where i have no fucks to give.
Good luck on your journey - you'll get there XX
W O W. She's an incredibly beautiful human and artist. I loved her clothing so much, and I was so surprised to hear that she's only 21.
There's something so pure about her. She's adorable and her art is amazing. I love her carefreeness too.
If you find what this woman says to be offensive, it means that YOU are, most likely, racist. She did not say ONE thing that could be interpreted as even vaguely prejudiced so I don't know what video everyone else was watching. She has a great attitude too. I felt like I could perfectly understand everything she said (although I cannot relate as I have never lived as she has, I'm white). This is HER time to talk, if you can't understand it go away and think about it first, at least.
There is no force more powerful and more phenomenal than that of a confident black woman
Reminds of the lyrics of Nina that I sing very often...
"I wish I knew how
It would feel to be free
I wish I could break
All the chains holding me
I wish I could say
All the things that I should say
Say 'em loud, say 'em clear
For the whole round world to hear"
Sometimes, I feel my mind holding me back, an internal battle telling me that I have to constantly fight to dispel some of the negative stereotypes associated with black women everywhere I go. Then other times, I actually feel free, free to express myself, despite what others may think and free to be me without the pressure of representing ALL black women but just representing me. Then my mind intervenes... I look at the way others are looking at me, and I go into mild depression and the cycle continues.
So I admire persons that seem free to be themselves all the time.
what a beautiful dynamic woman! Black girls are life, for real!
also when she smiled and said she's in love BRB CRYING!!! :')))
AND when she said she always feels beautiful these days :'))
Her heart, mind and soul are reflections of me and my being as a Black Man --- u are beautiful
omg I have gotten that before! "are your parents white?" cause of my culture. I wore whatever I wanted. I listened to rock music. You have to be this to get on this ride. Like let me designate who I am please? It comes from all sides.
She followed me on IG and I screamed!
I love these so much. she's wonderful. this really shows that we are all fighting the same battles.
She is one of the most interesting women I have ever seen on this channel. So is so real. She has me thinking.
Thank you.
her face when she said shes currently in love 😭
her hair is incredible! as someone with really flat boring hair I'm so envious of that volume and texture!
her art is soooo beautiful wow. and her words also. thank you for having so many lovely black women on, i am learning a lot.
She was dead on about how she didn't notice her insecurities till she moved to Houston . I moved down here after Katrina and to be honest I hated it .
I want to know more about your experience from New Orleans
to Houston.
Same sis, share your narrative (if you are comfortable sharing with the internets)
Aww she was so sweet! I'd love to meet her in person. She's so mature emotionally and artistic.
such beautiful a mind ♡ show your freedom woman shine bright and stand tall
I haven't watched even half of these videos but she's the sec woman I've heard say she feels beautiful all of the time... I really love that & working on getting to that point myself
Honestly, this is really challenging my thinking. I grew up as a mixed race girl in Apartheid South Africa and now live in the UK and have only experienced racism from one black guy on the train because I wouldn't speak to him. I realised that I actually haven't quite got out of slavery mentality and made white people feel comfortable with who I am when in the UK they didn't care. I never had white friends until I came to the UK and lost parts of my accent due to being conditioned to fit in to white stereotypes of us. I love my culture and heritage and recently learnt about my history. I shaved all my (straightened and bleach damaged) hair off recently and found a version on me that I didn't know was there. I'm married to an afro Peruvian (decent) guy and our daughters are just fabulously human. Wow, your channel is really challenging me into such an honest way of thinking... ABOUT Myself. Thank you ❤️🙏🏽🌈🌟👁️
Gods presence makes all evil spirit smells, Deep very deep.
Each time that I watch one of these videos, I feel more inspired and hopeful for a bright future. I truly hope to be a part of this series someday and share my story. I very much understand the issue of other black people not always having experience with being exposed to certain facets of culture and society, and therefore viewing certain things or people as strange. While this isn't unique to black Americans, I have personally experienced feeling odd-balled, as I don't always feel that I fit in with other black Americans in certain spaces. Also, I agree with Gabrielle's comment on the same types of stories being told in black films...depictions of family dysfunction and racial discrimination. While these stories are important to tell, they are not the only stories that can be told. It's our responsibility (including mine as a creative individual) to tell stories of love, comedy, unique drama, science fiction, action-adventure, fantasy, etc. Would love a response. Dying for some engagement here, fellow youtubers.
SPEAKING SO MUCH TRUTH on this interview! Thank you for having her ❤️❤️
Please do this with Hitomi Mochizuki ! She's an amazing youtuber with a great sense of style. You won't regret it
I second that! @hitomimochizuki
i think you should invite hitomi mochizuki, shes a youtuber and a beautiful human, or claire michelle
Maday Wolf I love Hitomi!
Hana Dayan ahhh :) shes great
yesss please do Hitomi :)
yes please hitomi please
YESSSSS
these videos are always such a huge inspiration
really cool.
I love her style, even though I wouldn’t wear it. I'm way too insecure...
Maubeerbluffin I hope someday u can get over ur insecurity and express ur style
loco wanderer
f. I n
Her hair!!! Her voice!!! Im in love!!!!!!
This chicks' so extremely beautiful. And wise, don't forget wise.
She's amazing. Beautiful style and aura.
stay free never let anyone take it from you.
Its so amazing to see all these powerful interviews with black women...what's equally as nice is all the beautiful comments on each video. Thanks for making such a unique space/way for women to celebrate each other ♥
These videos keep me going after hard days. There is so much honesty and love!
Jocelyn Guerrero and hate
"with as free as I am I feel more judged by my people" speak sis! Feel like I cant live in my own world sometimes
She is like a female version of Jean-Michel Basquiat, you can tell she is influence by him and keith haring.
my instant thought. especially when i saw that hat.
Thank you- Gabrielle is beautiful and has an incredible spirit.
when she said she always felt cute and beautiful it made me smile my biggest smile for a while =) thank you so much
In love with her mind
She is such a bright young woman. My goddess, she is so beyond brilliant.The entire thing was beautifully said, I love what she had to say and I love how she speaks and how she carries herself. I can't wait to see what she does next, she is a genius, I just can't wait to see where she goes in life.
I love your videos! They are so empowering for me as a young woman, but also educational. I was wondering if we could hear some stories of asian women too. Thank you.
muggle mode I agree!! I would love to see more Asian women!
I loooove this episode. She is so effortlessly cool and articulate.
Such raw truth from a wise young lady. And she's gorgeous!!!
I honestly love the way she talks
It's so nice to hear another black person publicly share viewpoints, I also agree with. I could relate when she talked about being judged by other black people for "being free." It's so true, I feel that same way sometimes.
never been so inspired and empowered. thank you.
I love this series so much. So beautiful and inspiring.
I relate to not being able to be as " free" in my appearance because of my race and the reactions i get. I'd love to see more of her art and wish her the best.
I love her voice I could hear her speak forever 😍
Gratitud for this beautifull woman!!!! Much love✨
She is so beautiful and truthful in her story. Wonderful
These videos are so empowering.
LOVE AND ADORE THIS YOUNG SISTER'S STYLE. INSPIRATIONAL ❤️
I loved her!! What she was saying was real. I totally related to some of her experiences. Thank you for representing the black women who are different, and outspoken. 🙌👍✌
You are such an inspiration! Thank you for giving of your feelings so generously. You creativity and truth-telling is awesome. Beauty inside and out. Also, I love your style of art-making--these clothes--I die!
Such a beautiful genuine soul.
Oh and she is stunning! I am really glad she knows that. Women should be allowed to feel confidence in themselves like that. :)
I love her. She is gracious to life and experience.
I love her style!
WHERE HAVE I BEEN ..HOW COULD I HAVE MISSED THESE GREAT VIDS..BUT THIS GIRL I SAW ME & HER EYES TELL YOU SO MUCH ABOUT THE WORLD SHE LIVES IN!..VERY PRETTY AS WELL ..I REALLY UNDERSTOOD HER!..
so young and so wise
Where can we find her art?
Last I heard She lives in Brooklyn and she's painting and making animated films. She is the coolest & very together.
This was beautiful! She's a beautiful soul!
Beautiful, honest, raw... inside and out
BEAUTIFUL!!!
Amaizing ! So necessairly ! Wow thanks girl !
Power in the flesh right here. Vulnerability and truth. Thank you...
“It’s not that far away.” ❤️
that cropped sweater under the overalls outfit is so tight
She is so beautiful and I love her style
oulalaa big crush, the way she says "yeeah", and her soft deep and smiley voice
WOW THANK YOU FOR THIS VIDEO SHE IS A QUEEN.!
sis is so beautiful and knowledgeable.😩 I love it.
Absolutely lovely
Everything she said i was like yassss. So inspiring
This was one of my favorites from the black history month series.
I really loved this interview I think she's beautiful. It reminds me of being a kid and being exposed to racism for the first time and how I felt then. I think the way I felt about racism then is the same way I feel about it now which is I don't understand and it doesn't make sense to me. I don't know if this video was suppose to make me think that but I did.
This woman is AWESOME.
❤❤❤her!! Keep going, sister!!!
This was my favorite one so far☺
Gabrielle, you ARE beautiful! Your clothes are amazing. Thanks for doing this interview/video.
Oh my god, I love her!!
Thanks for these vids w these fabulous ladies literally speaking the truth on this society and the way things are going. It's great that it is not being grouchy to light and everyone hears it, the fact that some are just uncomfortable or feel it "isn't a real issue" well then, sadly you are part of the issue. Wake up xx
Amazing interview.
God...i'm a black girl from another country....and listening to all this black women makes me say: i know what you're talking about. i'm in every black girl, and every black girl is in me...
BEAUTIFUL! INSIDE AND OUT!!! 😍😍😍
4:44 HILARIOUS!!!! Cause NO Black parent EVER would let you paint on something they own🤣 I don't condone it but I know why dude asked her that lol When I was 5, I got a spanking because I colored in the lace on my grandma's table runner🤦🏾♀️👩🏾🎨 almost 40 and I had a 12 career in the fashion industry + still love lace, painting, drawing, coloring🌈art + fashion. my fam missed an opportunity to nurture something in me at 5. Gabrielle is a dope artists💛 to see what encouraging a talent could look like❤️🖤💚💙💜🧡🤎💕
She is so beautiful inside and out. Anyone that is offended needs to take a deep look inside themselves, this woman is amazing.
She's so beautiful!
Beautiful!
anytime a new episode is posted and the thumbnail is a black femme/woman im so eager to watch lol im in love with them all
LMAO "It's not that far away" I LOVE IT!!
*Shivers* She is so beautiful.
Her hair is gorgeous
She's fucking amazing. I'm not black or anything, but I really feel what she's saying. I don't mean that I have the same experiences as her, or even that they can be compared. But we all have our prisons, and it's all about just being yourself, and not giving a fuck about what others think. That is why she inspires me so much. My prison - patriarchy, feeling like I have to be petite, cute, hairless, perfect, pleasing. And also being quite reserved like my family, while I am quite expressive. Yeah
Gabrielle, you are incredible! I am going to look you up right now :-) After three of these videos I'm not crazy about the interviewers - even in their edited versions I hear they don't seem to be the most neutral interviewers - I don't like that they say "you can take off your overalls now". I would like "would YOU like to take off your overalls?" I can feel the power dynamic and it's not cool.