to lead is to love tote

illustrated by rama duwaji

the name NINEESHA is derived from a word in malayalam that roughly translates to "the desire to lead". from an early age i've been trying to understand what it means to lead (why do i take myself so seriously). lately, i've been finding that loving, whether a person or a place or yourself, is the most sustainable motivator for change. around the time i was working on the tote with rama, i watched this documentary called slumlord millionaire in the backyard of habana outpost. in the thick august summer night, with ears strained to hear the dialogue amidst the honking of cars passing by, i learned about deed theft - one of the many mechanisms of displacing, primarily working class black, folks in the city. i love my neighborhood and i want folks who love it and have loved it over time to be able to stay if they want. it's as simple as that. i learned about a couple of organizations, like clinton hill fort greene mutual aid and NY tenant bloc that do important work to support and advocate for folks vulnerable to housing injustice. all proceeds from the tote sales were donated to clinton hill fort greene mutual aid, NY tenant bloc and new york immigration coalition's emergency justice funds.

photos by shanti basu