A Moment in History Defined by the Breath
2020 will go down in history as an overwhelming moment connected by the breath: Covid-19, a global pandemic that ravages the lungs and circulation; George Floyd’s last words, “I can’t breathe,” igniting a worldwide racial reckoning; the wildfires that burned the Pacific coast; and a collective holding of our breath from the relentless stress of society shutting down over and over.
These video portraits highlight incredible, generous individuals who have been the voices and leaders in their communities and have suffered the brunt of the suffering of this year -- Black, LatinX and Indigenous people, essential workers and a Covid survivor. All have weathered enormous stress in the past -- from extreme poverty, health crises, racism, and the ongoing “othering” by society -- and find strength within their communities and grounding in family and ancestral knowledge.
During filming, there was solace in sharing a time of just breathing together and being aware of each breath. Many voiced the sentiment, “This is just another thing. We’ll survive this also.” For this moment within this historic moment, one could reflect and simply be, knowing that the next breath would come.