Power in the Pandemic: Miota Allen
Miota Allen
Content Creator & Hair Stylist
Gaston, NC
Describe your original response to COVID
At first, I wasn't taking it as seriously as I should have been and I think it was in response to how lax social media was making it out to be. I did however cancel my spring break because I didn't want to get stuck.
Then gradually things got more serious and the school required that we move completely off-campus. This all came so quickly and it was mentally taxing. I had to budget and figure out how to make storage space work since this is the first time I had to ever move completely off-campus.
I was most concerned about what I was going to be doing with my time at home especially since we couldn't be outside. I am such a busy-body and being home without much to do made me nervous.
Was there a moment or clear shift in the way you responded to the pandemic?
I have always wanted to do YouTube but I never thought I would get the response I wanted. I kept putting it off and felt like I couldn't do it until I was fully prepared. During quarantine though, I made a list of things I had always wanted to do that I have never done before and I thought: YOUTUBE -- that very day I decided that I was going to go for it.
But even after making my video, I didn't want to post it because I didn't want to seem like I was just doing it to do it. I watched a YouTube video from The Raw and they emphasized that the market is NEVER too saturated and at that point I knew it was go time.
I realized that I was not taking care of myself and I started to give up. It was time for a change. I needed to use this time to regroup and reflect. I had more time than ever to put my energy into the things I am most passionate about.
Talk to one or some of your proudest moments during the pandemic
I got an email from YouTube that layed out my first month -- this happened at the same time that everything was going on in the world. I had been so hurt and so drained by everything but when I received that email it was the most divine reassurance that I needed to keep pushing and moving forward. Stuff happens but you have to fight for yourself and your mental health.
When you look back on this season...what do you want to remember
I want to remember the good. I know we are far from the change we are seeking but when I look back I want to remember that my people took a stand and DEMANDED change. This season really taught me that Black people are magical.