Today we’d like to introduce you to Amyna Price.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I started my pursuit to the big screen through my love of music and singing. I started joining church and school choirs, and eventually plays which made me fall in love with acting. In middle school, I was apart of the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute Youth Performing Ensemble where we performed (and sometimes traveled) original plays based on events that happened during the movement. My involvement with that program really shaped the type of content that I wished to create on my own. I graduated from UAB in 2016 with a B.A. in Theatre. After graduating, I moved back to my hometown in Philly and then moved to Richmond, VA to work for Virginia Repertory Theatre. After my contract was finished, I moved back to Birmingham and started working as an extra here and Atlanta on TV shows/movies such as Survivor’s Remorse, The Bobby Brown Story, P-Valley, etc. As a Black woman artist, I realized how often we get trapped in other people’s “types” of who we can play/what we can do, so I decided the best way to change that was create my own platform. I wanted to create an authentic voice for Black men and women – for us and by us.
In the beginning of 2019, I started Shaking The Damn Table and created a platform for Black millennials to discuss important issues within our community and promote Black creatives, businesses, and entrepreneurs. We’ve discussed topics that range from education in our community, homosexuality, gender roles, health issues in the Black community, etc. In May, we had an opportunity to interview reality TV star, Shay Johnson, as she discussed her journey with fibroids as a Black woman. We also created a mental health event/live show that turned into its own company with some of my friends – Mental Health Magic. This was the catalyst of officially creating my production company – Soul Glow Productions. I have started more projects such as Being Black in America web series and currently producing a podcast based on sex and relationships from the Black woman’s perspective – The Afrodite Podcast.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I’ve had many struggles on this journey as a creative. I started off just wanting to do music, then going into acting, then directing/executive producing. There are many struggles that I’ve had on this journey like trying to decide if I should just focus on one skill at a time, not having the finances for what I envision, and just getting out of creative ruts. There’s always challenges within the entertainment industry because a lot of the work we do is personal – so even not receiving the type of response you want from a project can be perceived as a struggle. I find that there is beauty in the struggle and it is really what has shaped me the most as a creative.
Shaking The Damn Table – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Shaking The Damn Table is a podcast/web talk show that dives deep into the discussions surrounding the Black community and culture. It is divided into different segments, one of which is the Black business of the week. When I thought of the idea of the show, I thought of how many young Black men and women I knew that were becoming entrepreneurs and creatives. I wanted to be able to highlight Black businesses within my city first to help with people who are starting off and to release negative stigmas against shopping Black. We also have a Black History Trivia segment that originally was just an idea for Black History month, but I loved being able to inform our audience on all of Black history in an engaging way going back to achievements from Zora Neale Hurston up to Beyonce. The main segment of the show is based on the topic of the week, and the topics we chose were based on current topics discussed in media or just “taboo” subjects within the community. I am proud to be able to discuss some of these issues that we are often scared to voice our opinions on around most people including family. It’s an educational platform that is entertaining and meant to educate people on Black culture, history, community, race relations, health, education, and so much more.
What has been the proudest moment of your career so far?
My proudest moment has honestly been to create with other people and seeing them being able to hone in more on their craft. I can’t do any of this alone, and being able to have people who carry their own skill sets and seeing that develop into something greater is amazing to me. I believe my mindset has expanded through doing Shaking The Damn Table, just by listening to what my peers believe on a certain subject, and I’ve had conversations with other people who have been on and watched the show who can say the same. My whole purpose is to make a difference by enlightening our community. So knowing that something I created could help someone feel more unapologetically Black and want to start the conversations that need to be had is the best thing that I could ever accomplish in my career.
Pricing:
- Shaking The Damn Table T-Shirts [$25] made by Exceptional Creations by Tamara
Contact Info:
- Email: shakingthedamntable@gmail.com
- Instagram: @shakingthedamntable , @a.janel94
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shakingthedamntable/
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2jTpd7b-_Xp5TVqX-rYheA/about?view_as=subscriber
Image Credit:
Daesy Vences, Amyna Price, Tamica Banks
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