Sol Patches, 18, is a queer, transgender gender abolitionist from Chicago. They are a talented actor, rapper, and activist, plus an all around inspiring human being. They have worked with Free Street Theater, Let Us Breathe Collective, and their hip hop collective Da Projekts. You can listen to their latest solo project on SoundCloud.

UGOCHI EGONU: What does blackness mean to you? And how have your experiences affected that definition of blackness?

SOL PATCHES: Blackness has affected me in a very complex way, especially because of the multiple identities that I hold, being a black, trans gender abolitionist. Yet, at the same time, blackness has also accepted me for who I am, and the passion that I have for liberation and contributing to work that has liberated people. I really strive to just be me, as I am. There are always conflicts, but, at the same time, I feel more rewarded in this movement being who I am and not being ashamed of that.

Do you ever feel like the different parts of your identity collide? How and where do you find the intersection?

I don’t feel like my identities collide, they really just make me who I am. I think that other people—the way they perceive me—they think this must collide, this must be conflicting and whatnot, but honestly it just gives me the motivation and more work to do, and for that I’m grateful. I get to give voice to multiple people and communities and that’s something that I never want to take for granted. I want to continue to put myself in service of those who are even more oppressed, those who are never heard. I’m aware that every time that I speak, there’s probably someone who will never get a chance to speak, you know?

How do you think Black Lives Matter can be more inclusive to all black people?

A lot of times we get caught up in these trendy forms of activism and terms, instead of actually remaining open and present within the spaces that we occupy. In a lot of instances, folks who mainly rely on academia carry themselves in a way that alienates those that they are actually trying to fight for or fight with—they don’t even say with they say fight for, and there’s a difference. I also think folks who are strictly grassroots should be more open to the multiple layers of blackness. I think that can happen by accepting the fact that you can be a part of this movement and contribute to this movement by using what’s unique to you. You can be an activist within your own realm and within what you feel will be most effective. You don’t have to be out in the streets, you don’t have to be out protesting. What you can give is enough, and we have to remember that.

Do you have any other comments about intersectionality in Black Lives Matter? I know you talked about Black Lives Matter from a black queer perspective on your latest mixtape.

Word. When I was working on my album/mixtape As2water Hurricanes, I had come into contact with this organization called Let Us Breathe collective. They were doing a lot of arts-oriented protest and remixing the way we experience activism. I really wanted to document Chicago activism, like when we were occupying North Lawndale, the same neighborhood where Rekia Boyd was killed. So I wrote the track “BLK Hurricanes,” which is all about Black Lives Matter through that lens. ♦