A CONVERSATION WITH: ZAKIYA
This blog is part of our series, A Conversation WITH. As a media organization, we highlight members of our team - past and present - that have done awesome work with Wide Angle, while also pursuing their own creative goals.
Zakiya Muhammad -they/them - has a background in media production and creative writing. After graduating from the illustrious Howard University Zakiya began working alongside nonprofit organizations to provide resources and mentorship to support young storytellers. Zakiya is now focused on creating opportunities that will encourage the diversity of the media field by working with young storytellers of marginalized communities throughout their career journeys, and providing safe environments and community spaces for young storytellers to comfortably explore their creativity.
Please provide a brief summary of your current role at WAYM (i.e. how you got involved, initial impressions of the org, when, why)
I am an assistant producer with Wide Angle. I found out about Wide Angle through the apprenticeship program, I was fresh out of college and lacked experience in the media industry and also didn’t feel confident in my abilities. I think I was pretty shy when I first started, but it was refreshing honestly to not only be interviewed by a black person but also walk into a room and see other black young adults with shared interest in the media field. The experience of being an apprentice, working on sets, literally hands-on with everything has been a serious foundation for my career. I also felt comfortable not knowing, it felt nice to be able to ask questions and not feel intimidated by the people I worked with because it was so diverse and fun. I was pretty blown away when I first started working with WAYM because I didn’t know that a program like it existed and I could be a part of it with other cool black creatives.
How have your experiences at WAYM helped you with your overall career pathway?
For sure… WAYM allowed me to explore different areas of the media field and learn about myself and what I do and do not enjoy! This is very important because for the longest I thought I wanted to be behind the camera… in a way I am, but I love writing, organizing, researching, and coordinating people. I found my strengths and I was able to feel confident and capable with my work.
What project did you work on at WAYM that encouraged you the most?
I would say the short film we created for One Love. I was able to work/write the script, support casting decisions, and Assistant Direct. It was so much fun! I loved being able to write for black characters and find ways to show vulnerability and raise mental health awareness within the black community. It was a short film for high school students to discuss what unhealthy relationships may look like and also the signs that someone may need some support. I always want to use my privilege to help others in marginalized communities have a voice and also be able to recognize themselves in media. It can feel very lonely and dehumanizing to only see black and brown bodies in the media revolving around trauma or unhealthy stereotypes. This project made me reflect and think about what I would like to portray and how black and brown characters can be written as three-dimensional beings that are more than just pain and aggression, there is also softness and vulnerability. I always want to express how there is always so much more to the Black experience than trauma and this project made me feel like I was able to do that for the first time.
We’re so excited to see you move on to your next endeavor. What can we expect to see from you in the future in your new position?
I’m working with interns! I am working with Reel Works, an arts nonprofit organization, as their Career Exploration Program Coordinator. So I will be working with high school and college students and supporting them through their internships and career journeys.
What’s your favorite memory from a shoot or another event at WAYM?
I think my favorite memory would be working with Lynnie for the first time at the TRIBE music video shoot. She told me that day we would be friends and we have been ever since.
Is there anything else that you’d like to share?
I would like to share how important community and representation are as creatives. As a Black queer non-binary person, there are already so many stories telling me what my experience is. Being a part of this organization helped me find my voice and feel confident in sharing my own experience because my perspective matters. Also, I would not be where I am today without the community I found with Wide Angle, I met one of my best friends, and I found mentors, and connections that may have not been available to me if I were to have tried to do everything alone. I also would like to shout out Saki! Seeing them go and achieve such amazing things and listening to them speak about their creative endeavors really helped me when I was sorting out my own goals and journey. I’m truly grateful for the people I have met!
MEET THE AUTHOR
Lacee is a student at the University of Baltimore pursuing her bachelor's degree in Psychology. Lacee began as an intern with Wide Angle through Urban Alliance. She found great interest in media-making after working on various projects from design to photography to video. She has developed life plans, workforce readiness skills, and design projects for clients such as Baltimore Mediation Center and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Her content writing and creation skills have developed tremendously. She’s developed multiple informative posts for Wide Angle’s social media platforms, highlighting Black August, Indigenous Peoples’ Day, National Coming Out Day, and more.