Following the news of its newly-founded $100 million creator fund, YouTube has announced a global slate of both old and new original projects dedicated to amplifying Black culture and championing our voices.
In June, we announced the #YouTubeBlack Voices Fund, a $100M fund to amplify Black voices & perspectives. We're excited to announce new YouTube Originals from the fund and additional projects that hero Black stories. Read about this and other updates here: https://t.co/EgX7EEYT2H pic.twitter.com/LL6PNOXkyC
— YouTube (@YouTube) October 7, 2020
The five titles announced will continue YouTube’s long-standing pledge to celebrate all the diverse perspectives that exist on its platform. Of these new projects, some come directly from the recently announced $100 million #YouTubeBlack Voices Fund, including “Resist” — a documentary series from Patrisse Cullors, co-founder of Black Lives Matter — as well as a HBCU Homecoming livestream special.
“YouTube is committed to spotlighting community-driven storytelling and the important issues that people of color and other marginalized communities face everyday,” said Susanne Daniels — Global Head of Original Content for YouTube Originals — in a press statement. “Now more than ever, it’s essential that we develop, support, and elevate content that is created by and for the Black community.”
Conversations surrounding race and racial justice over the last few months have proved to be tough work, but both citizens and creatives have dedicated their time to inspiring change to build a more inclusive future for us all.
“Race has never been an easy issue to confront but the events over the last few months have opened up doors of dialogue and action that had once seemed closed,” shared Malik Ducard — YouTube Vice President of Content Partnerships — in a statement. “Across YouTube, we have a tremendous opportunity and responsibility to contribute to these conversations about racial justice in a meaningful way.”
He added: “Through our $100 million content fund and other initiatives, we are continuing the important work of amplifying Black voices, making YouTube a better place for Black creators, educating people on the diversity of the Black experience, and centering Black people as the messengers of their own stories.”
According to YouTube, the digital platform will continue to invest funds from its #YouTubeBlack Voices Fund over the next three years to “acquire and produce YouTube Originals programming, focus on Black experiences around the world, and directly support Black creators and artists so that they can thrive on YouTube.”
For the full list of YouTube’s upcoming titles, click here.
