Welcome to Kizzified
Kizzified is documentary, that explores, race, racism, prejudice, discrimination, and white privilege, as it relates to professional black woman, in the confines of corporate America. The documentary, is currently in production, and is looking for woman with unique story to tell. So if you believe that you have some insight on this topic, feel free to contact us via contact form below.
What Does It Mean
Kizzy: meaning “stay put” in Mandinka.
One of the characters in Alex Haley’s 1976 abc mini series “ROOTS”. Kizzy was the enslaved daughter of Kunta Kente. As a young girl Kizzy was taught how to read and write by Master Reynold’s niece Missy Anne. In the story, Kizzy used her literacy to help another slave toward freedom by forging him a traveling pass. He was later caught and returned to the plantation, both he and Kizzy payed the consequence. (A slave knowing how to read and right could mean getting beat, sold away, or killed) This risky gesture to help her fellow man cost Kizzy to be sold away to a different plantation, proving that “knowledge is power”. She then became one of the many victims of enslaved families being torn apart. At 16 she was sold to a different plantation, and gave birth to her Master’s son Chicken George. All the woman in slavery, like Kizzy had many roles; house slave, field hand, personal maid, cook, seamstress, and midwife. It was work never ending, taking care of the masters household, and taking care of their own family in domestic occupations.
“Slavery taught woman to be self reliant whereas white woman of the time were dependent socially, and economically on men”.
-Nigel Sadler
KIZZY-FIED: That moment when a black woman is subjected to the perceptions of others, that believe her to be inferior because of history’s hurtful past.
We black woman have come a long way and proven ourselves to be nothing less than resilient. Yet, unfortunately we still come across greater levels of ignorance from others. Like the time at the mall, you held the door for a white family and nobody said thank you. Did they feel as though you were “supposed to?’ How about the time at work, when your white female coworker questioned your work. Almost as though, your education and intelligence held no ground. Has your input at the meeting gone overlooked, yet when it was repeated by a white coworker, sudden praise was given. Believe me, I could go on and on and even tell you about the time when I was 19 years old. I asked about alcohol swabs to clean the phones, which was much needed at this customer service cubicle filled office. My then boss gave me $10.00 to get cotton and rubbing alcohol to clean the phones. Yes you heard me right, cotton! “You go and get as much cotton as you can from the store”. The young and naive girl I was didn’t think too much of it, and was glad to leave the office and get some fresh air. Well, when I returned, the pleasant older black gentlemen I sat next to whispered to me and said with disgust “Don’t you be their Kizzy”.
I am no longer naive, and have grown to be a very successful black woman. I have since then earned a bachelors degree,am very outgoing and well spoken, I am a Recreational Therapist with the child/adolescent psych population, a Stand up comedian/writer/actress, I own my own production company, and I take care of myself. Yes I have all these great things backing me, and yet in still I experience those disappointing moments of racism. Whether it’s subtle, or Boom! in your face. I was even assumed to be on welfare in a meeting amongst Doctors, and was asked to give information on the matter. I was offended by this stereo type, and had to tell them light heatedly “I have no idea”. Mind you I know struggle, but didn’t appreciate the assumption. Moments that I have no choice, but to recognize my history, in order to better understand the present. I don’t like these moments, but I often handle it with grace, class, and with my head up high. I would be a liar if I didn’t admit there we’re times I was taken out of my character. But I promise I had good reason. Lol. ”
Miss, you might want to follow little miss Abercrombie and Fitch over there, she’s the one stealing”. I am reminded that there are still a race of people that feel I should be working for them and not with them nor beside them. And to them I say HA HA, we can’t be held back, and I am an example of that.
Media plays a big part in how we are perceived, and how we perceive ourselves as well.
Music videos, misogynistic music, reality TV, movies, and magazines all help in shaping how black woman are portrayed. Unfortunately for us, this is usually in a negative light.
I am no psychic, but I will predict this one. I do not believe there is one black woman in America today, who is successful in her own right, that has not experienced or had a Kizzy-fied moment. It is almost inevitable, and unfortunately it goes hand in hand.
I want to tell this story, to show just how resilient we are. Does anyone besides “us” have any idea how much we laugh off, let roll off the shoulder, or keep scarred inside. Focusing on our reality, what we endure on a daily basis, and how we have beat the odds. This is not a woe is me documentary. Like Michael Moores Fahrenheit 9/11, And Sicko, we are exposing some of our truths of being black women, while enlightening others. Most importantly we will be addressing these testimony with some humor, oppose to anger and not at all making a mockery.
If you have a “kizzy fied “moment that you would like to share, we would love to hear from you.