This year has been equally tumultuous as it has been rewarding. Issue 02 of to Be brought with it triumphs and tribulations, yet despite the odds, there was beauty in it all.

The issue’s theme, Times Are Changing, is aptly named after the state of flux we find ourselves in. As time expands, so too do social mores, and in the face of such changes, it’s our dignity and convictions that hold us together. Moreover, it’s been a political wormhole as of late, with many having more time stuck indoors to be introspective rather than connecting meaningfully with each other. Despite these obstacles, there is a social renaissance impending and I hope we can all bear witness and find refuge in change. 

A friend recently said to me that “to Be is about an idea, it’s not about individuals,” and I thought it was quite fitting. Which led me to quote our contributor Aloiso Wilmoth: “It’s all about finding a shared struggle.” It is this collective energy that moves us toward connection, which is why we’re all here.

Many of our contributors had some interesting takes on how their lives and values have changed drastically over the decades, years and even the more recent months of the pandemic. From photographer Ed Templeton recounting skate culture from the ’80s and ’90s to now, to our cover star Sam Quealy speaking on change in creative industries and Aloiso Wilmoth discussing the rise of racial essentialism. The intricacies of all of these different worlds have managed to cultivate a diverse and affluent well of knowledge on cultural bedrocks of an international community. 

Additional highlights in this issue include Reko Rennie, Kembra Pfahler, Eartheater, Eugene Rabkin, Joshua Gordon, Cintra Wilson, Kingsley Ifill and our favourite New York sweetheart, Chad Moore.

Times and minds are always changing and the choices we make allow us to grow alongside the ebbs and flows of the moment. I hope this issue can be a timestamp for you to return to in years to come.

Thank you for reading.

Annabel Blue.