Interview with Rachel Izuagbe
We recently interviewed Rachel Izuagbe.
Read the interview between Daania S. and Rachel Izuagbe below!
Read the interview between Daania S. and Rachel Izuagbe below!
Rachel: My name is Rachel Izuagbe and I’m a second year at the University of Washington. I am planning on double majoring in political science and public health because I’m really interested in learning in the disparities of health and education between communities and how we can make laws to change that. My hobbies include engaging in activism, watching YouTube videos about movies because it’s really cool to listen to people analyze films, and I love being clubs and hosting team bonding events lol
Question 1: Talk to us about how you got introduced to activism
Rachel: Activism has always been something I was aware of. Growing up as black girl with immigrant parents, I was constantly taught about how race can really impact the way others treat you. It wasn’t until my senior year of high school that I really did engage in activism. I started making shirts with My Skin Is Not A crime because of the way black bodies are treated in this country. It felt really empowering to have a message you believe on your chest and that’s what kind of pushed me into everything. Then after the parkland shooting, I was able to organize my first rally. I worked with a group of students to participate in the walkout and discussed the importance of gun control, the impact of gun violence and why we need to be voting as young people. After that I felt like I really loved activism and community organization and knew that was something I would be passionate enough to do as a career
Question 2: Tell us how you came up with the idea of the @unvpologtic account?
Rachel: I came up with my account after I felt so empowered in the shirts, I made for myself. I originally started with the “My Skin Is Not A Crime” shirt that could be customized into different skin tones so all people of color could express their concerns. Then I created a “Their Skin is Not a Crime” so non-POC allies could also support the message. Then, the summer after high school I decided to change my Instagram to be focused solely on creating these shirts. I was thinking of ways I could include everyone into my message and that’s when I created the “Unapologetically” line. This line was 100% customizable and let people choose what phrase would finish the sentence. For example, I have an unapologetically black shirt because that’s an identity that I strongly connect with. I’ve had people order unapologetically feminist, Muslim, gay, etc. so once that started, I decided to name my brand Unapologetic Apparel and then I’ve been adapting ever since. Unapologetically is one of the collections. I have but I’ve also started making different designs to fit feminist, lgbtq, black pride, and intersectional issues
Question 3: That’s great! You also are interested in health?
Rachel: Yeah! So, I’m really interested in learning about the disparities in the healthcare field because it’s really closely tied to systemic discrimination in this country. For example, pollution causes great health risk to low income and predominantly communities of color. When redlining happened during segregation, a lot of black people and lower income people were forced to live in neighborhoods that have poor infrastructure and can be used as dumping places for toxins. Since these communities don’t really have a voice when it comes to making legislation, they are often overlooked and exposed to these harsh pollutions without their knowledge or they are aware of it and can’t move because they don’t make enough money or can’t really fight against it because they don’t have the power or influence that wealthier or whiter neighborhoods have. Even looking at the Flint water crisis, we see how implicit bias impacts the response time to marginalized communities. The reason this is Important is because things like pollution impact everyone’s health, but people of color are disproportionately exposed to it because of past events and currents systems keeping them in these low income and forgotten regions. I think the healthcare system could be greatly influenced if more research was directed towards how institutions impact the health of an individual. We often look at health defects and diseases as the individual’s fault when there are so many outside factors that can actually be the cause of health issues. I really like learning about it because I’ve never been taught that stuff before and I would be interested in doing case studies to dive into those questions so I can advocate for change in those sectors through policy
Question 4: What sort of career are you looking to do with all this?
Rachel: I’m still trying to figure everything out and after I’m in my major I think it will be easier to navigate that. But being a researcher through public health is something I’m interested, but I’m also really interested in running a nonprofit and being a policy maker
Has it been hard to juggle activism and school? If so, how have you overcome it?
It is definitely a challenge to balance the both of them especially during my transition into college. I go to a pretty competitive university so it’s really important to do well in all your classes so you can be admitted into the major you want. So balancing my school work plus my clubs and extra curricular activities that are supposed to help build my resume, it was really easy for me to put my activism to the side. I had to pick school first. Going into my 2nd year, I have been trying to reorganize my time. This summer was really nice because I could spend all my time on my clothing brand. Now that I’m going back to school in less two weeks, I’m going to have to readjust again. But I have made a list of all the things that are important me and want to be involved in. For example, I want to volunteer with a climate justice group so I’m going to make time for that. I use a planner 24/7 so that is super helping in organizing my time hourly.
Question 5: What advice would you give to teen activists?
Rachel: I would tell them to really establish what is important to them early on but to be open minded. It’s important that we know our values and why we’re fighting for them. It’s easy to feel burn out in a field that is pretty brutal, but if it is truly something you care about, you’ll always find a way to do it. Being open minded is always really important. We need to see the perspective of others so we can really understand how we can make change. We have so much power if we use it correctly. The future is in our hands and we need to make sure we’re thoughtful, courageous, and loving throughout this journey
Question 6: Who is your biggest inspiration?
Rachel: My biggest inspiration is Angela Davis! I love her so much and I love listening to her speak. I actually made a shirt for my face with her face on it. She is just so powerful and educated and I aspire to be just like her
Question 7: If you could ask her one question, what would you ask?
Rachel: That’s a great question! I would ask her how she stayed resilient through everything she went through. Being involved with the black panthers and constantly having a target on her back because she was advocating for racial justice, I just can’t imagine the stress that brings
Question 8: Is there any last thing you would like to add before we end the interview?
Rachel: No that’s all! Thanks so much!
Thank you!
Rachel's Instagram: @unvpologetic
Question 1: Talk to us about how you got introduced to activism
Rachel: Activism has always been something I was aware of. Growing up as black girl with immigrant parents, I was constantly taught about how race can really impact the way others treat you. It wasn’t until my senior year of high school that I really did engage in activism. I started making shirts with My Skin Is Not A crime because of the way black bodies are treated in this country. It felt really empowering to have a message you believe on your chest and that’s what kind of pushed me into everything. Then after the parkland shooting, I was able to organize my first rally. I worked with a group of students to participate in the walkout and discussed the importance of gun control, the impact of gun violence and why we need to be voting as young people. After that I felt like I really loved activism and community organization and knew that was something I would be passionate enough to do as a career
Question 2: Tell us how you came up with the idea of the @unvpologtic account?
Rachel: I came up with my account after I felt so empowered in the shirts, I made for myself. I originally started with the “My Skin Is Not A Crime” shirt that could be customized into different skin tones so all people of color could express their concerns. Then I created a “Their Skin is Not a Crime” so non-POC allies could also support the message. Then, the summer after high school I decided to change my Instagram to be focused solely on creating these shirts. I was thinking of ways I could include everyone into my message and that’s when I created the “Unapologetically” line. This line was 100% customizable and let people choose what phrase would finish the sentence. For example, I have an unapologetically black shirt because that’s an identity that I strongly connect with. I’ve had people order unapologetically feminist, Muslim, gay, etc. so once that started, I decided to name my brand Unapologetic Apparel and then I’ve been adapting ever since. Unapologetically is one of the collections. I have but I’ve also started making different designs to fit feminist, lgbtq, black pride, and intersectional issues
Question 3: That’s great! You also are interested in health?
Rachel: Yeah! So, I’m really interested in learning about the disparities in the healthcare field because it’s really closely tied to systemic discrimination in this country. For example, pollution causes great health risk to low income and predominantly communities of color. When redlining happened during segregation, a lot of black people and lower income people were forced to live in neighborhoods that have poor infrastructure and can be used as dumping places for toxins. Since these communities don’t really have a voice when it comes to making legislation, they are often overlooked and exposed to these harsh pollutions without their knowledge or they are aware of it and can’t move because they don’t make enough money or can’t really fight against it because they don’t have the power or influence that wealthier or whiter neighborhoods have. Even looking at the Flint water crisis, we see how implicit bias impacts the response time to marginalized communities. The reason this is Important is because things like pollution impact everyone’s health, but people of color are disproportionately exposed to it because of past events and currents systems keeping them in these low income and forgotten regions. I think the healthcare system could be greatly influenced if more research was directed towards how institutions impact the health of an individual. We often look at health defects and diseases as the individual’s fault when there are so many outside factors that can actually be the cause of health issues. I really like learning about it because I’ve never been taught that stuff before and I would be interested in doing case studies to dive into those questions so I can advocate for change in those sectors through policy
Question 4: What sort of career are you looking to do with all this?
Rachel: I’m still trying to figure everything out and after I’m in my major I think it will be easier to navigate that. But being a researcher through public health is something I’m interested, but I’m also really interested in running a nonprofit and being a policy maker
Has it been hard to juggle activism and school? If so, how have you overcome it?
It is definitely a challenge to balance the both of them especially during my transition into college. I go to a pretty competitive university so it’s really important to do well in all your classes so you can be admitted into the major you want. So balancing my school work plus my clubs and extra curricular activities that are supposed to help build my resume, it was really easy for me to put my activism to the side. I had to pick school first. Going into my 2nd year, I have been trying to reorganize my time. This summer was really nice because I could spend all my time on my clothing brand. Now that I’m going back to school in less two weeks, I’m going to have to readjust again. But I have made a list of all the things that are important me and want to be involved in. For example, I want to volunteer with a climate justice group so I’m going to make time for that. I use a planner 24/7 so that is super helping in organizing my time hourly.
Question 5: What advice would you give to teen activists?
Rachel: I would tell them to really establish what is important to them early on but to be open minded. It’s important that we know our values and why we’re fighting for them. It’s easy to feel burn out in a field that is pretty brutal, but if it is truly something you care about, you’ll always find a way to do it. Being open minded is always really important. We need to see the perspective of others so we can really understand how we can make change. We have so much power if we use it correctly. The future is in our hands and we need to make sure we’re thoughtful, courageous, and loving throughout this journey
Question 6: Who is your biggest inspiration?
Rachel: My biggest inspiration is Angela Davis! I love her so much and I love listening to her speak. I actually made a shirt for my face with her face on it. She is just so powerful and educated and I aspire to be just like her
Question 7: If you could ask her one question, what would you ask?
Rachel: That’s a great question! I would ask her how she stayed resilient through everything she went through. Being involved with the black panthers and constantly having a target on her back because she was advocating for racial justice, I just can’t imagine the stress that brings
Question 8: Is there any last thing you would like to add before we end the interview?
Rachel: No that’s all! Thanks so much!
Thank you!
Rachel's Instagram: @unvpologetic