Learn. That's what I did on #blackouttuesday. I did some research on what I wasn't well-versed on: Black creators. The value that these creators bring to the table wasn't something I was aware of; what we see on our phones and all around us is totally whitewashed. Screw that, I wanted to see what I was missing out on. And boy... I. Struck. Gold.
I found artists, photographers, models, musicians, all kinds of creators who use their experiences and Black culture to send a message. While their styles are different, their goal is the same: show off what's not being shown. Here's a list of my most favourite creators that I found!
Angie Thomas, Author
Instagram: @angiethomas
Who is she?
Angie Thomas is the number one New York Times bestselling author of THE HATE U GIVE, a young adult novel inspired by a short story she wrote in college after the shooting of Oscar Grant. The synopsis of the book is scarily reminiscent of what's been happening lately: a 16-year-old Black girl witnesses her friend get shot and killed by a white cop, and a riot ensues once the latter is deemed not guilty of murder in court.
The book was so popular that it was made into a movie a few years ago, but it hasn't come without its challenges. Angie recently posted on Instagram about her book being one of the most censored books of 2018 mainly because of it being "anti-cop". I love that she refuses to be silenced.
Oghalé Alex Ogbaudu, Photographer
Instagram: @oghalealex
Who is he?
Ogbaudu is a London based photographer who constantly keeps innovating in the world of photography with every project he does. One of the ones that caught my eye was a set of photos he took from a project called Crown of Mystery.
This project was all about showing the beauty of the afro. Nigerian women believe that a woman's hair is her crown, and that it's a huge part of her identity. He describes the mystery of the afro perfectly in his description, growing up with sisters who had their hair yanked and pulled to be styled. Oghalé captures the beauty of it in the photos he took (available on his website!). I put up my favourite one he took from that project, but it was really hard to pick just one.
Kerry James Marshall, Artist
Instagram: @kerryjamesmarshs
Who is he?
Marshall is a contemporary painter that loves to focus on African American life and history. Growing up, he lived by the Black Panther headquarters and quickly developed a desire to paint what he's known.
Fun fact: Marshall is known for painting his Black subjects the darkest that he can which makes them contrast highly with what's around them. He's big on counteracting the whiteness you see in advertising and wants the world to know that whiteness is not a prerequisite for beauty.
I was instantly drawn to this piece (Untitled, handsome young man). This piece is part of the exhibit at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. This piece was a result of Kerry James not seeing enough portraits of Black subjects in art history books, and "resolving that problem became a paramount objective".
Dumebi Iyamah, Fashion Designer
Instagram: @andrea.oi
Who is she?
Iyamah is the founder of Andrea Iyamah, a popular clothing brand influenced by the colours and patterns of African cultures. She's always been driven and smart, starting this brand at the young age of 17 (meanwhile, 17 year old Angele burnt bread in the microwave). Dumebi wanted to take part in a cultural story and make ready to wear pieces for women.
Oh, and good news for my fellow Ontarians: She has a shop in the province! Her other physical store location is in Lagos, Nigeria but has all of her collections online as well. Quality clothing check!
Aja Monet, Poet
Instagram: @ajamonet
Who is she?
Monet hails from Brooklyn and is an activist for the Say Her Name campaign. She cofounded Smoke Signals Studio, and volunteers at the Dade Correctional Facility to teach poetry to inmates.
I came across her because she's currently doing a project she calls "Homemade". On the first and 15th of every month, Monet does a livestream where she and other poets read poetry to heal during the COVID-19 pandemic. In her words, "Homemade is a dedication for the people and is inspired by the indigenous and African tradition". I highly recommend watching her livestreams on her website because they're really soothing to the soul.
Elaine Welteroth, Editor and Author
Instagram: @elainewelteroth
Who is she?
Elaine Welteroth is a jack of all trades: she's an author, editor and journalist. She became Teen Vogue's editor-in-chief at the young age of 29 (yes, really), the second youngest person to ever get that title.
She was the driving force behind the image overhaul at Teen Vogue, covering more political and social justice topics. She was praised for giving minority groups more representation in the magazine articles, and totally created a group of activist teens from that change. You should check out her book, More Than Enough!
CHIKA, Rapper
Instagram: @chikalogy
Who is she?
CHIKA rose to fame in 2016 after the US presidential election with a video she made on "how to stay safe in America", with her trying to conceal her skin with pale foundation in a comedy video. She also made waves 2 years later while rapping over Kanye West's "Jesus Walks" with a perfect rap absolutely ROASTING his views and reminding him about the struggles Black people still face. Ok, I say as I'm looking her up, I like this chick already.
CHIKA is Black, queer and plus-sized. She knew that even if she didn't rap, her voice needed to be heard and she'd find a way. It's a good thing she made this into a career though, because her music is definitely something to put in your "getting pumped" playlist ("Crown" had made it into mine).
Definitely follow her on Instagram to stay on top of her music and her thoughts on what's been going on with the riots.
Nyome Nicholas-Williams, Model
Instagram: @curvynyome
Who is she?
Nyome hails from London and models for many companies, including Neon Moon, an inclusive lingerie brand. I came across her interview with them, and she details her philosophy on body positivity.
To her, bodies are meant to be different! Body positivity is a gradual thing, and we have to be kind to ourselves in that process. Nyome remembers noticing that her hips were larger than other people's hips in middle school, so she's definitely been through that self-growth phase!
Nyome has been able to share her wisdom with her followers on curvynyome.com . Not only does she have articles on body confidence, but you can also find inspirational stuff, things for anxiety, and her adventures in the wonderful world of fashion. Her blog is pleasing to the eye as well.
D.O., Rapper
Instagram: @iamdogibson
Who is he?
D.O., or Duane Gibson, is a Black Canadian rapper who set the Guiness World Record for the longest freestyle rap back in 2003. D.O., which stands for "Defy the Odds" works solo but also makes up one half of Art of Fresh.
Not only does D.O. produce phenomenal raps, but he's also well known as a motivational speaker and author. He's the mind behind Stay Driven, which is a school tour program that encourages leadership and working hard all while being anti-bullying and anti peer-pressure.
D.O. does it all. He graduated from York University with an honours degree in English, and even wrote his thesis "Rap as a Continuum of African-American Linguistic Practices", earning him a spot on the Dean's List. He also taught English classes part time. Excuse me while I take a nap on behalf of D.O.
Leave your favourite black creators down in the comments so we can make a chain!
Peace out!
Comments