Meet Brandi Smith of Atlanta

Today we’d like to introduce you to Brandi Smith.

Hi Brandi, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Brandi, in her 40s, lives in Atlanta, works in corporate America, and is a wife, sister, aunt and daughter. She attended Spelman college and is an alumna of Savannah College of Art and Design. The granddaughter of an educator, Brandi has always been taught, “to think” as opposed to, “what to think”.

After graduation, Brandi set out to use her voice to bring awareness to racial injustice and gender based bias by becoming a content creator.

At the same time the country experienced one of the most heart-breaking elections in 2024. When exit polls showed that 53% of white women had voted for Donald Trump again, Brandi and Davone knew it was time to act. They saw potential in the 47% of white women who had supported VP Kamala Harris and decided to help them learn how to be actively anti-racist and true allies to the Black community.

Thus, the Anti-Racism Book Club was born. As the book club’s host Brandi identifies the books and supplemental materials for engagement. Up to 300 white women at any given time are actively enrolled in the three-year program that seeks to move white women from performative ally ship to accomplices in anti-racism.

Since January of 2025 the club has discussed in great detail, White Fragility by Robin Di’Angelo, Hood Feminism by Mikki Kendall, White Tears/ Brown Scars by Ruby Hamad, Why are all the Black kids sitting together in the Cafeteria by Dr. Daniel Tatum and the Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot. On occasion the club has been able to secure chats with authors including Robin Di’Angelo and later on in June will be hosting Dr. Tatum.

Since its inception, two additional social justice book clubs have been added to the roster. Lavender Liberation, a book club welcoming Queer folk and their allies. As well as Ashes and Ink; a book club welcoming Trans and Cis-gender men to inspect redefine masculinity.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Who said it was supposed to be smooth? Seriously, though as a Queer, Black woman, I don’t think I have that expectation of anything in my life. When I was a child, I would complain to my father that, “this isn’t fair” and his response was always, “life isn’t fair princess”. What I learned from that, was I could expect fairness, or I could fight for it. The choice was mine. I’m not really interested in whether or not the road has been smooth or easy, rather if it has been rewarding, worthwhile, have lives been touched or changed. That is my hope.

Have there been struggles? Of course! We hear more no’s from authors than yes. We get thousands of requests to join our books clubs for every 1 person that actually joins. We have white people tell us we are racist for discussing racism, we have some Black people tell us we shouldn’t bother to do the work because it’s pointless. We struggle with mental health, our physical health, self-doubt, self-sabotage, just like all of you. Our belief in what is right keeps us fueled, our community keeps us grounded and our ability to cover the gap for one another where we fall short provides us the grace, we need so that we can show up every day.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I center my work and values around three core tenets:
Black women deserve protection.
Trans rights are human rights.
I’m not here to convince you of either.

The last point might be the most important, because if we can’t agree on the first two, then trying to change your mind is a waste of time. A person’s humanity is not up for debate. Full stop. I’m not going to argue or be gaslit by someone who’s committed to misunderstanding me or trapped in their own delusion. What I will do, and what I truly love is to engage in honest, thoughtful discourse. Hence my TikTok handle brandihelenas | Direct Discourse.

Being married to a Trans man undeniably shapes how I advocate for Trans rights. But it goes deeper than that. As a queer woman in Atlanta with a long-standing career in drag, I’ve been loved, guided, mentored, and uplifted by Trans folks, some of the most hardworking, generous people I’ve ever known.

That’s why my work with BTAC (The Black Trans Advocacy Coalition) means so much to me. My husband and I began attending their conferences seven years ago. Since then, I’ve had the privilege of consulting with leadership on organizational strategy and helping to shape AnchorHer, a support group for cisgender women in relationships with Trans men. This year I was honored to facilitate my first workshop for the group.

Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
In 2022 I had dropped out of college more than once due to lack of finances. I needed 15 credit hours and $12,000 to graduate. I took the chance, applied and was accepted into SCAD. I entered into the payment plan and swiped my credit card for $4500 I didn’t have. 30 days later, my school called me to say I was awarded a full ride and they would be refunding what I had already paid. Take the risk.

At 41, I intentionally set out to become a content creator. Within a year I amassed over an 80k following. Take the risk.

In November of 2024, my business partner and I set out to start a book club for 30 white women, by February 2025 we had 300 members, by June we opened 2 additional clubs. Take the risk.

The biggest obstacle I have ever had was never an actual impediment but the fear of that impediment. Do the thing, learn the lesson and grow.

Pricing:

• Anti-Racism Book Club $22
• Lavender Liberation $10
• Ashes & Ink $15

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/brandihelena
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Brandihelena
• Other: https://bookclubs.com/anti-racism-book-club-13/join/

Image Credits
Professional Photos by Fashion Riot Photography
Make up by The Milah Effect