World Storytelling Day is celebrated annually on March 20th. Today’s storytelling is accessible, with the power of perspective and lens in the hands of the creative, and the rise of activity on social media platforms like Instagram, Tik-Tok, Instagram, and Twitter. In 2020, a normal person was reported to spend approximately 145 minutes on social media a day, according to Statista. To fuel the Black storytelling impulse, we are highlighting 5 Black content creators who are combining uniqueness, relevancy, and humor to tell pertinent stories.
( Image by Pixabay )
Khabane Lame (@KhabyLame ), the Senegalese, Italy-based content creator, started the pandemic jobless. Through utilizing his talents to create interesting comedy videos, including reactive content on how to accomplish tasks simply, he rose to be one of the top Black TikTok creators, and with millions of views and subscribers, is able to sustain himself through his craft.
( Jackie Aina. Image by @JackieAina via Instagram )
Jackie Aina ( @JackieAina ) is a Nigerian-American beauty influencer who has been in the YouTube game since 2008. Now, she curates beauty content on varying social media pages, including TikTok, where she brings awareness to make-up shades, tips, and tricks for dark-skinned women, sells merchandise, and contributes greatly to the Black luxury aesthetic.
( IamLegallyHype. Image by @IamLegallyHype via Instagram )
A.B. Burns Tucker ( @IamLegallyHype ), a law student and mother, went viral after explaining the Russia Ukraine conflict in AAVE, which received over 18 million views. She continues to curate educational and culturally relevant content that disseminates informative information to empower communities on social topics. In the wake of her success, Tucker has resigned from her work as a paralegal and continues to garner opportunities to create social commentary content.
IamBrattyB. Image by @IamBrattyB via Instagram )
Ariam Kidane ( @IamBrattyB ) creates fashion, historical, and lifestyle TikTok videos, some of which pay homage to characters and historical Black women through recreating their make-up looks. The D.C.-based Ethiopian fashion influencer, content creator, and writer also creates ‘Black History lessons in 60 seconds’ videos, and highlights topics like the Tigrayan Genocide and various facets of Ethiopian culture and its influence on pop and modern culture.
( Lynae Vanee. Image by @Lyneezy via Instagram )
Lynae Vanee ( @Lyneezy ), the poet, social commentator, and content creator tackles pertinent social justice issues on various social media platforms, including TikTok. Her Parking Lot Pimpin series, which always starts with her signature line “It’s Friday, so I’mma keep it Black, but I’mma keep it brief” and is accompanied by a blue and white tea set, combines fashion, commentary, and intellect to promote varying topics that promote multifaceted aspects of Black liberation. Some episodes include “Climate Injustice”, “Russia and Racism” and “Haitian Border Control Practices”.
Works Cited
Nana Ama Addo is a writer, multimedia strategist, film director, and storytelling artist. She graduated with a BA in Africana Studies from the College of Wooster, and has studied at the University of Ghana and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. Nana Ama tells stories of entrepreneurship and Ghana repatriation at her brand, Asiedua’s Imprint ( www.asieduasimprint.com ).
