Instagram Launches ‘Black Perspectives’ Initiative

As Black content creators continue to lead the way in online spaces and online trends. Whether it’s through memes, videos, dances, or even whole songs, it’s more important than ever that those Black creatives get the credit they deserve. Perhaps even more important than that is the need for social media platforms to support those individuals and help them leverage their talent into long-lasting careers.

With that in mind, Instagram has just announced a new initiative called Black Perspectives—a project designed to support Black creatives and give them the credit they truly deserve. And it’s not just about boosting the individuals making content in online spaces. The initiative has been designed to also support those creatives giving back into their community; whether it’s an event or an educational workshop, anything that empowers those people and their communities, is being supported here.

Here in the UK, Instagram is linking up with LGBTQ+ youth worker and community builder Tanya Compas, GUAP co-founder Ibrahim Kamara, Kiss FM presenter/host Henrie Kwushue, and leading lifestyle influencer Estare Areola—four homegrown creators who have risen up in online spaces to become industry leaders in publishing, music, entertainment, activism, fashion, and beyond.

First will be Tanya Compas’ ERASURE project, which launches in April, a two-day boot camp designed to help LGBTQ+ young people break down stereotypes through content creation and storytelling, and forge creative careers without compromising who they are. Then, later in April, Ibrahim is launching a six-week workshop session called #TheBrief to give five Black creatives the opportunity to work with him on a creative campaign that he’ll be mentoring to deliver editorial, video and images in response to the themes of ‘Legacy’ and ‘Community’. 

Beginning in May, Henrie Kwushue will be launching Free Game, an exclusive Instagram content series where she’ll interview big names from the entertainment industry to uncover inside knowledge and pass on that wisdom to the next generation. Finally, kicking off in June, Estare Areola will run The Creator Quest, which involves a series of challenges for four aspiring content creators to see how they handle a real brand brief and if they can turn their passion into a career.

Over the coming months, each of these four talents will be working closely with Instagram to deliver their initiatives, give back to their communities and inspire the next generation of content creators. “At Instagram, we’re committed to supporting and nurturing the careers of emerging Black talent, and Black Perspectives is an embodiment of that,” says Georgia Kelly, Emerging Creator Partnerships, UK & Nordics, Instagram. “Black creators are consistently driving culture forward on the platform and too often face barriers to success in the creative industry. Together with our change-making lead creators, we’ve curated a programme that will support emerging talent to forge careers for themselves both on and off Instagram.”

Complex caught up with the creators leading the Instagram project.