Brandi's Dream

Brandi Collins-Dexter didn’t take to public speaking naturally. She was an introvert, and early in her career, Brandi used to workshop press quotes and speeches with me. I cherished those moments and enjoyed being an extra set of eyes to give her peace of mind. But as she got more and more practice, she got more confident. Eventually, she didn’t need me to do that anymore. She had become a star. I missed working with her like that, but I was also happy to experience her words like anyone else in the audience.

Below is the closing segment of a speech Brandi gave at the frank gathering, hosted by the University of Florida’s Center for Public Interest Communications in February of 2023. I remember her being excited about it because she was encouraged to reference one of her favorite things (professional wrestling) and even got to choose her own entrance music. You'll see she's even wearing a shirt featuring one of her favorite wrestlers, Naomi.

It is my favorite speech she ever gave. Nima Shirazi, who invited Brandi to speak at the event, referenced her talk in his beautiful tribute to her this past summer.

“She invited us to dream about what it means to win,” Nima said, “and what it means to keep going even when you don’t know what winning would even look like. This is the Brandi we knew. Realistic and radical, visionary and visceral, caring and cosmic.”

I wasn’t in Florida for the event, but she shared the video when she got home. I was in awe. I fumbled over my words trying to praise her, but she simply shrugged like it was no big deal, said “I’m glad you liked it,” and suggested we watch the latest episodes of Love is Blind. 

This is the second and final post of our Revival Letter welcome series. Stay tuned in two weeks for the original content and analysis you can expect in this space going forward. 

In the meantime, enjoy the speech below. It is quintessential Brandi. And it is the energy that will forever power The Revival Lab, Brandi’s final project.

In solidarity,
-- David

Brandi Collins-Dexter's speech at the frank gathering, February 2023.

You can watch the full speech below or at this link.

I invite you to close your eyes and imagine yourself. See yourself in the most supersonic costume you can imagine.

Maybe you're wearing an ornate robe that has the word "Glorious" bedazzled on the back. (You're my people if you get that reference.) Or jewelry passed down to you from your ancestors or a macaroni necklace your kid made you. Maybe you're in all black everything, or pleather, wearing a mask or face paint or a hijab that is straight-up serving. Or jeans and dirty Converse or six-inch platform boots. (Mad respect.) Maybe you're wearing Randy Orton-style panties. (No judgment, it's your superhero costume. Do you, friends.)

Whatever it is, imagine yourself as your most heroic, inspired self, drawing on the power of community, in and outside of this space we've created on and offline. In this moment, I want us to remember the knowledge that was shared and built in this container that we now hold within us. We hold in us the will to purge every system in this country of harm and violence, so that something new and better can have the fertile soil it needs to grow. We hold in us the people who sought to build an oasis for their families on contaminated lands, through it all creating space for food, laughter, and music that tastes, sounds, and feels like home. We hold in us the freedom to be time travelers, shapeshifters, and border-hoppers, building on the dreams of those who came before us.

We know revolution takes time and also abundant freedom is here for us right now, as long as we commit to it as a practice everyday, today. The long view can be seen from here, even if the shadow of exclusion looms large. Because, when you're on this journey with someone else you love and you love yourself, that's when you find yourself. And that's when you find us. 

So, now is the time to go back out into the world and resume rewriting the script. And when you need to be a little braver than you feel, imagine putting on that costume and being your own hero.