Creating a Platform Where People Can Vent
“I Am African & I Can” is a women’s empowerment blog that highlights stories of black women’s struggles and success.
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By Hadiatou Wann | 03/01/19
College can be overwhelming. If you’re not someone who keeps a journal underneath a pillow or vents to friends and family whenever your plate is full, you’re bound to have a mental breakdown at some point. While Rahilou Diallo was pursing her bachelor’s at Binghamton University, she pulled out her thinking cap and brought into fruition a platform where students could vent and keep their identity anonymous.
The toilet is a stationary place we go to release waste. Diallo used the same concept to create “The toilet,” a platform to give people the space to vent.”
What inspired Diallo to come up with a space where anyone could release and flush their worries?
During undergrad, Diallo felt the overwhelming weight that every stutent carries in college, but could not talk to anyone about some of the obstacles she faced. This led her to create “The Toilet” and freely express herself without being judged.
Diallo watched her brainchild evolve over the years. Now, she is the host of the “The Toilet Podcast” and makes a way for people of different backgrounds to share their stories unapologetically.
Diallo is a Guinean native. At Binghamton University, she was one of the lead dancers in a theater production, managed her school's Instagram, won “Imagine a Future Scholarship” through BET, has interned for the Clinton Foundation, and hosted several events.
She has accomplished a lot, and is especially proud of “Coming to America and to know that there is a life outside what [she's] been taught.”
Diallo is a first generation college student. She is doing her master's in media management at The New School.
Akiera Charles, Diallo's best friend, says the follwing about the “The Toilet” creator: “Beyond her being the closest thing I have to a sister and the plutonic love of my life (haha), Rahilou aka (my mama Lou) is everything the world shouldn’t deserve; because, yes she is that divine and too real for all of our earthly nonsense period.”
Diallo acknowledges that she is not the best at asking for help. If you're looking to collaborate with her, feel free to reach out.
Charles describes Diallo even more, “she is infinite, tender, sacred and regenerative; and also, in the realest way possible a “serial” creative. Almost like watching god herself create planets from her thoughts, hopes and desires; Rahilou has a way with craving out intentional calibrative spaces for new thoughts, concepts and visions…she works horizontally co-creating with her networks, whilst grinding the grind of the NYC hussle, loving up on herself, her people and loved ones, as well as, re-imaging the action of “love” as a verb.”
Because there is a minute number of women in media, creative control ends up in the hands of men. The stories told are often times from a male's perspective. Diallo expresses the importance of more women going into media studies, “ We have to take back the narrative and tell our stories and do it the right way, not because it's a trend.”
Diallo has been through an abundance of trauma, difficulties, and challenges yet she prides herself in being kind and compassionate. She’s lit, vibrant, hardworking yet possess a no-nonsense unapologetic black girl magic attitude.
This creative being is going places! She aspires to be like the great women that inspire her—influencial like Michelle Obama, witty like Oprah Winfrey, graceful like Sade, and audacious like Cardi B.
Welcome to Diallo’s World
“I love taking pictures, dancing, yoga, and napping.”
(L-R) President Bill Clinton, Diallo
“I interned at the Clinton Foundation during my senior year of college. It was unbelievable to be honest. I remember watching [Bill Clinton] give a speech with my dad when I was living in Senegal. Meeting him in real life was surreal because I never imagined that was actually possible.”
“A strong woman is someone who is willing to dig deep. Someone who doesn’t let society define her. She is determined to take over and takes her time to understand herself. She doesn’t put her insecurities on other people. ”
“It’s easy to get intimidated. If you’re in a room, you’re qualified. Don’t let self-doubt stop you from taking advantage of the spaces that you’re in. ”
“Success to me is being at peace and being content with what you have. A lot of people accomplish things but never feel it’s enough. Even if you don’t accomplish a goal, if you learn from it and move on, that is success.”
Connect with Diallo:
Instagram: @_rrrrah
Facebook: Rahilou Diallo
Email: rah.hilou@gmail.com
YouTube: https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCccdcqYTehYaomGk6ZafW3A
Website: https://www.thetoilet.org
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