Resistance From Bed & Everywhere Else
Activation Residency is a Black trans led artist residency aiming to generate a safer and more collaborative space, adapt to its residents’ needs, and create portals to futures needed now.
Brooklinen has teamed up with Activation Residency to support and invest in the rest and renewal of Black trans people. In the same ways that we take to the streets when Black trans people are murdered by the police, the same energy is needed to center the rest, care, and comfort of Black trans people.
Get involved and learn more about ways you can help Black trans people rest, as a method of resistance, below.
Supporting Rest as Refusal
Whether they’re fighting from bed, the streets or everywhere else, the artists and activists you are about to meet make time for rest and time for joy. Indulge in the beauty of both, below.
A Space to Renew
Activation Residency seeks to activate the creative practice of each resident, redistribute access, resources, and care as well as play with the means of production.
JJ McDonald
THEY/THEM
“I decided a long time ago there’s nothing that’s worth me being tired over. And ever since then, I’ve committed to myself, so my first priority is rest and everything kind of comes after that.”
Qween Jean
SHE/HER
“We promote and encourage rest as part of our language, as part of our daily practice. And that it’s not just “self-care.” Yes, I think that’s so important but I think if we have not done the due diligence to create a safe space...you’re often coming back to toxicity or things that are stress-inducing, or just don’t allow you to be the best you.”
Basit
THEY/THEM
“I cultivate rest by really finding that inner child...let’s play, let’s sleep, let’s encourage our bodies to do whatever they need to naturally do.”
Vanessa (Van)
THEY/THEM
“Simply put: Living under white supremacy, living within capitalism, I don’t know that I’ll ever have all the time. It’s not easy to break out of having to sacrifice rest for labor.”
Kamra
THEY/THEM
“Once we have secured rest for Black trans people, everyone can rest.”
Tough Gossamër
THEY/THEM
“To rest is to give yourself the opportunity to become aware of what needs to be repaired, and then staying in the slowness to do that.”
Qween Jean
SHE/HER
“We promote and encourage rest as part of our language, as part of our daily practice. And that it’s not just “self-care.” Yes, I think that’s so important but I think if we have not done the due diligence to create a safe space...you’re often coming back to toxicity or things that are stress-inducing, or just don’t allow you to be the best you.”
Basit
THEY/THEM
“I cultivate rest by really finding that inner child...let’s play, let’s sleep, let’s encourage our bodies to do whatever they need to naturally do.”
Vanessa (Van)
THEY/THEM
“Simply put: Living under white supremacy, living within capitalism, I don’t know that I’ll ever have all the time. It’s not easy to break out of having to sacrifice rest for labor.”
Kamra
THEY/THEM
“Once we have secured rest for Black trans people, everyone can rest.”
Tough Gossamër
THEY/THEM
“To rest is to give yourself the opportunity to become aware of what needs to be repaired, and then staying in the slowness to do that.”
How You Can Help Activation Residency
Black trans people’s ancestors rioted so they could rest, and now it’s up to everyone else to continue the fight. Join us in taking action and investing to strengthen Black trans futures, this month and beyond.
