In this episode, I interview Danié, a Mexican artist who uses braiding as a call for human unification in times of social transformation. She is the co-founder of “The Bazaar for good,” a foundation to help create better conditions for children around the world. She is fluent in Spanish, English, and French and was born in Mexico City and currently lives in the United States, in Dallas, but spent years living in Miami as well. Quite a global citizen, Danié has also resided in Toronto, Stockholm, and Madrid. In our conversation, we talk about language, identity, and slang words that are spoken in the multicultural and diverse communities where she lives.
Danié shares much more than a handful of fascinating slang words typically spoken in Miami, she also talks to us about the importance of art as a visual language that resonates with people based on their culture and how art helps people connect with the human experience and with their roots. In addition, Danié explains that when you speak one language, you connect with one side of your brain and with certain emotions and stories. She shares how language matters and how the words we use are powerful. We also go into raising bilingual children and how language and culture are so valuable to children. Also, we hear how certain cultural traditions manifest through particular words in society. She mentions how violence and masculinity are often derogatory and engrained in language and how we need to redefine how we express ourselves. We discuss words in Swedish, English, and Spanish and how they reflect culture, colonization, and identity. She uses braiding as a way to deconstruct and reconstruct her identity and find authenticity, creativity, and voice.
You can find Danié on her website:
Danié’s Instagram handle is: @journeyofabraid
Her Youtube channel is: https://www.youtube.com/c/journeyofabraid
The transcript for this podcast can be found on my website