black creators
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You're About to Engage in Hella Learning Because Issa Rae Is Teaching a MasterClass
I have a cute and endearing story right quick. The day was December 15, 2016, and I saw a promotion for an upcoming MasterClass featuring Shonda Rhimes as an instructor and the topic was “Teaching Writing for Television.” Shortly after seeing it, I (half-jokingly) posted on Facebook that if anyone was obliged to gift the…
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Need a Creative Spark? The Cast and Crew of Pixar's Soul Got You, Boo
This year has done a number on us all in various ways. The “spare time” we’ve been afforded during the lockdown has also made more room for extra existential thoughts. Cue Pixar’s first film with a Black lead character, Soul, which explores the possibilities of the meaning of life. The synopsis for Soul, per a…
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The Root Presents It's Lit! Goes Black to the Future With Kimberly Drew and Jenna Wortham
Remember zines? Okay, maybe we’re dating ourselves, but younger versions of The Root’s Editor-in-Chief Danielle Belton and I (Managing Editor of The Glow Up, Maiysha Kai) were early fans of the format, maybe even producing a few zines of our own. (Okay, that definitely happened). Historically, zines organize various creators and mediums around a single…
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Announcing Blacktag, a Platform for Black Creation, Curation and Consumption; Issa Rae and Common Among Partners
In the midst of tragedy, hardships and frustrations that came with the 2020 global pandemic, creators have been pushed to well…be creative in order to survive in this economy. Virtual content is key this year (as all of us who telework and spend a lot of time on Zoom can attest), so naturally, that applies…
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Strong Brock Lead: Mara Brock Akil Signs Overall Deal With Netflix
Mara Brock Akil is getting her much-deserved flowers in a special way this year—and the latest news means some of those bouquets are made of cash! Deadline announced on Wednesday that Brock Akil signed a multi-year overall deal with Netflix to create original content. “We are thrilled to welcome Mara Brock Akil to Netflix,” Channing…
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'How Will Art Sit in Other People's Hearts?': Aloe Blacc, Arisha Hatch and Kierna Mayo Break Down How Art Transforms Our Lives at The Root Institute
Art is the cornerstone of most societies. The art often reflects the times the artist lived in and/or the systems in place at that particular time. To that end, art can be used in a transformative manner to effect change or as a piece of propaganda to sell a message or a viewpoint to masses.…
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All Black Everything: Zendaya Leverages the Power of Black Creatives for InStyle's September Cover
Don’t just talk about it; be about it. That’s the subtext of Zendaya’s stunning September 2020 cover story for InStyle, creative-directed by Zendaya’s longtime stylist Law Roach (a 2019 Root 100 honoree) and photographed by Ahmad Barber and Donte Maurice of AB+DM Studio, who also joined forces with Roach to capture Kerry Washington in a…
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#BlackoutDay2020: Why There's Never Been a Better Time to Buy Black—and Why Black Creators Matter, Too
With a primary focus on Black-owned businesses since our founding here at The Glow Up, admittedly, we occasionally forget the rest of the world hasn’t caught on to how rich, varied and high-quality the offerings from Black entrepreneurs can be. #BlackoutDay2020 aims to change that, as everyone—not just us folks and fam—is encouraged to spend…
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TikTok Apologizes for Claims of Suppressing Black Lives Matter-Centered Videos on Its App
TikTok, the popular video creation app, apologized for a controversy over the weekend involving the Black Lives Matter movement and those who aim to spread awareness about the senseless murder of George Floyd. TikTok users noticed that videos posted with the hashtags #BlackLivesMatter and/or #GeorgeFloyd had zero views, and others noticed that videos featuring these…
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A Self-Isolation Joint: In the Age of Corona, Richie Loco Drew Inspiration From Spike Lee
Spike Lee has undoubtedly inspired many up-and-coming black filmmakers; specifically, his role in the independent film circuit and his penchant for addressing race relations in a no-nonsense way has earned him critical acclaim and respect. Much like celebrities who have such a strong personality that they are perfect candidates for comedian impersonations, Lee’s work is…