blackmattersus.com
Hi Osaretin, we’re glad to have you here today with us. Could you introduce yourself to our readers? We understand that you’re a filmmaker, you’ve participated in the African-American Women Film Festival and you’re a writer as well. Who do you see yourself, and how did you come to write these works?
Osaretin Oghomwen
Yes. I’m a filmmaker, I’ve directed 3 short films, I’ve had my films screened at film festivals and my second short film was acquired by a major short film distributor. So most of my work as an artist comes from directing films and I decided that I wanted to make an impression in literature. I have always been good at writing, I wanted to express myself in that form and so I’ve been working on a compilation of essays, photography and personal writings for the past six years. I just finished compiling everything into a book. My book is called L’etoiler, and I’m currently trying to market it. I decided to self-publish so that I can market and gain exposure a little bit faster. So I really do strongly identify as an artist.
blackmattersus.com
Could you tell us more about the short films you’ve made? How did you plan them, what are they about, where and how can our readers be able to see them today?
Osaretin Oghomwen
I have three short films and all of them are dramatic narratives with a plot. They’re very moody and very dark in nature. I don’t have the full-length films available online because I’ve acquired a distribution deal with a television channel, and I was asked to be exclusive. But I do have a website where viewers can see clips of my films and have a general feel for what the films are about. You can visit my website at www.oghomwen.com
blackmattersus.com
Who or what inspires your filmmaking?
Osaretin Oghomwen
I’m really inspired by a need to self-therapy myself. I got involved in films because it’s really a therapeutic relief for myself, I have an urge to express myself and I’ve chosen this art. So I would draw inspiration from myself and experiences that I’ve been through.
blackmattersus.com
Could you please tell us more about Tao of a Black Woman?
Osaretin Oghomwen
This is an essay where I give a reference out to the aesthetic of Black women and I speak about how I believe Black women’s physical beauty and essence is really particular as a whole and I’m really just kind of in all the uniqueness and different essence that I feel like Black women carry. So the essay really just praises and extols Black women and speaks about the rarity they carry. I also trace how the society’s perceptions of Black women have changed over the centuries. In the beginning of my essay, I talk about how Black women were really stigmatized and then as centuries have gone by, the aesthetics of Black women are gradually accepted and more trending. So my essay does touch on the history of Black women and how they have been perceived.
blackmattersus.com
What’s the level of feedback you’re receiving from people who’ve seen some of your films and read some of your essays?
Osaretin Oghomwen
I’ve gotten really good feedback. I haven’t really shared my work with that many people because I haven’t officially released the book, so it’s only kind of just been some people that are close to me. This particular essay, I shared it with a friend and she felt really moved by it.
blackmattersus.com
Let’s talk about your book that’s coming out in October.
Osaretin Oghomwen
I’m actually going to make it available this month on some bookseller websites like Amazon.
blackmattersus.com
In the book you talked about the fact that women should be able to take control, to rule the world. Is that what you really think? Do you think this is a way to build a safe future without wars and armed conflicts? What are some of the responses you’ve gotten from men concerning that particular work?
Osaretin Oghomwen
Concerning the essay about female superiority, ironically, the only people that I’ve shared that particular essay with have been men and I’ve gotten really strong opposing views. I got a very deeply opinionated response from the few men that I have shared it with. I feel like my views definitely angered the men that I’ve spoken to and they often just go off on this really long rant, like women are actually more of a culprit than I have accredited them to in my essay or women are not as innocent as I portray them to be in my essay, so that was the response that I’ve gotten from the men that I’ve shared it with. To answer your question about whether I think women should be more in control, I just think that it’s a good idea to give women more opportunities to be in positions of influence. I definitely see that as a positive thing for society.
blackmattersus.com
But when you look at the current situation for women around the world, you can see that more and more women are beginning to play bigger roles in governments worldwide. What do you think about the fact that right now women are able to make such big strides in governing?
Osaretin Oghomwen
I think that’s really good. I think men and women are equals. A lot of times gender doesn’t have a relevance when it comes to governing and being in influential roles. I definitely think that a lot of decisions are gender neutral, so I think that’s a lot of progress because women used to be a minority group that had less rights. Women have had to struggle to access the same amount of equality as other minority groups.
blackmattersus.com
Talking about the fact that you said that women are more rational than men. Many people would certainly not agree with that. How would you explain this to them?
Osaretin Oghomwen
I think stereotypically, women are known as being more emotional and prone to mood swings, I think women are more rational because we tend to be more empathetic with human life. I feel like women tend to have more respect and reverence for life which is why most of the massacres and gun violence and decisions to go to war are made by men and not women. When you look at really heinous acts in human history it’s overwhelmingly male driven. Because of that observation, I’ve concluded that women tend to be more empathetic with human life.
blackmattersus.com
Well, that’s very strong point.
blackmattersus.com
So are you done with filmmaking or should we expect some new releases in the nearest future?
Osaretin Oghomwen
Yeah, I’m definitely not done with filmmaking. I have some upcoming film projects, I’m planning to move on to my first full-length film project, a feature film, in the upcoming few months and I also have a short film that I’m currently adding scenes to. So I do see myself as a lifelong filmmaker, as an art form I’m really dedicated to.
blackmattersus.com
Let’s talk about the problems that women of color face currently. What do you think are the major problems women of color face in the United States now?
Osaretin Oghomwen
I think the most prominent problem that Black women face is stigma and low perception and the overall presumptions that burden people of color. There’s a national survey I read that says Black women are the least desirable to date. So I think that type of perception kind of burdens Black women. To automatically be perceived as undesirable without getting to know our character and who we are is kind of an obstacle.
blackmattersus.com
What do you think can be done about this problem?
Osaretin Oghomwen
I think just encouraging and uplifting Black women that want to be involved in the arts or other sectors of society like politics, science and policy. I think anytime that there’s a Black woman on the rise, that space should be nurtured and encouraged so that they can combat perceptions that are hard to die.
blackmattersus.com
Finally, what do you have to say to young women of color who have big dreams and are aspiring to reach great heights around the world but are facing certain hindrances?
Osaretin Oghomwen
I think women of color should just continue striving and just remain focused on what they’re passionate about and what they’re interested in and just to completely ignore whatever ill perceptions that they’ll come across. I think it’s just really important to stay focused and remember, before you identify as a Black woman, you’re first a human being and so you have the right to pursue whatever you want to pursue and to not be deprived based on racial stigma.
Share To 
