Desawna Is Creating Space for Healing Through Culture Tales
Detroit has always been a city fueled by creativity. From music and fashion to film and poetry, the city continues to produce artists who create from a place that feels deeper than trends. One creative carrying that energy right now is Detroit storyteller, writer, and creative director Desawna Buford, better known to many as SIS, the mind behind Culture Tales.
In a conversation with Plann Magazine, Desawna opened up about discovering her voice through writing, turning pain into purpose, and why authenticity matters now more than ever. What started as journal entries and emotional storytelling has now evolved into something much bigger — a movement rooted in vulnerability, imagination, healing, and community.
May 26. Written by Ryan Packer
Growing Into Creativity
For many Detroit creatives, artistry starts at home. But for Desawna, creativity was something she had to grow into on her own. Even though her family encouraged activities like coding, robotics, and museum visits, writing became the one thing that naturally connected with her. She described always being imaginative and obsessed with creating worlds outside of reality.
That realization fully clicked during high school after writing a nonfiction piece about the emotional experience of her mother giving her up. Watching classmates cry while reading the assignment became the moment she realized her words had power. It was not about making people sad — it was about understanding that storytelling could make people feel something real.
Building Culture Tales From Emotion
Culture Tales officially began after Desawna watched the final episode of the FX series Snowfall. Inspired by Franklin Saint’s collapse and his distorted version of “freedom,” she began reflecting on how people often lose themselves chasing survival, success, or escape. That emotional reaction sparked the first official Culture Tales piece titled “Hey Nigga, Is You a Slave?” — a project centered around oppression, freedom, and self-awareness within modern culture.
What makes Culture Tales stand out is the way it merges emotional writing with visual presentation. Wanting to make people actually stop and read on Instagram, SIS began experimenting with digital newspaper layouts through Canva, eventually building an aesthetic that now feels instantly recognizable. But underneath the visuals, the mission remained the same: healing through honesty.
A Safe Space for Authenticity
When asked to describe Culture Tales in simple terms, Desawna gave an unexpected answer: “home.” More specifically, a place where people can emotionally “undress” and exist without performance. In a world built around image, algorithms, and constant pressure, Culture Tales was created as a space where people can simply exist as themselves for a moment.
She explained that every story shared through the platform is ultimately a reflection. Even though the writing may sound personal, the deeper purpose is to encourage readers to look inward at their own lives, emotions, and healing process. Whether someone comes to the page for inspiration, comfort, or simply a cool story, the core message remains centered around truth and connection.
Detroit’s Creative Future
Throughout the interview, one thing became very clear: Detroit’s creative community means everything to Desawna. She spoke passionately about local artists, photographers, stylists, and filmmakers who continue pushing boundaries across the city. Creators like Ameera, 5D Vision, Sudani Shaah, and Ashanti were all mentioned as artists helping shape Detroit’s evolving creative identity.
At the same time, she also expressed frustration with how divided creative spaces can sometimes feel. Instead of competition and cliques, Desawna hopes Detroit creatives continue building stronger connections and supporting one another. In her eyes, originality and authentic human creativity matter now more than ever — especially in a world increasingly driven by artificial intelligence, trends, and copy-and-paste culture.
Turning Pain Into Production
Outside of writing, production has become one of Desawna’s strongest skills. She described herself as someone who knows how to execute ideas and bring visions to life, even while naturally being more private and reserved as a person.
One of the most meaningful projects she has ever created was Dear Addict, a short film dedicated to her late brother who passed away from a cocaine overdose. More than just a film, the project became a deeply personal love letter and a turning point creatively. Seeing her family experience the work inside a gallery space made SIS realize her art had the power to shift generational pain into something meaningful.
What Comes Next
Culture Tales is now preparing to expand beyond Instagram. Desawna revealed plans to release a seven-part book series alongside a guided journal experience that allows readers to heal alongside the stories themselves. She also plans to study media arts and digital marketing in Chicago while continuing to grow Culture Tales into a larger storytelling platform focused on documenting other people’s experiences as well.
More than anything, her message to young creatives was simple: keep going. Stay authentic. Protect your individuality. And never allow comparison to disconnect you from your own voice. Because according to SIS, creativity is not optional — it is part of what keeps the world alive.