10 Black Publishers Who are Changing the Game
Welcome to BlogHer Creative Corner. An interview series highlighting our very creative and inspiring publishing partners and content creators across the SHE Media Collective.
In 2020, 20 big advertisers pledged to spend between 2% and 5% of their annual media budgets on Black-owned media outlets. Since then, several initiatives have launched with a focus on paying more attention and giving long due accolades to Black publishers and content creators. The recent partnership between the SHE Media Collective’s Meaningful Marketplace and Group Black is a trailblazing initiative to lead the push for Black-owned media investment.
In a continuous celebration of Black History Month, we are highlighting Black publishers and creators who are using their voices to tell important and authentic stories. These publishers are standout content creators who have carved a space and left a mark in the publishing industry and in their various niches ranging from entertainment to food to sustainability. Their platforms are revolutionary and their success, a testament to their dedication, unique perspectives, and sheer grit.
Tomi Obebe – GoodTomiCha
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I am Tomi Obebe, a full-time content creator based in Charlotte, North Carolina. I have corporate digital marketing experience and an MBA from Clemson University which has helped me combine my passion for business with my personal style. As my website GoodTomiCha has grown, I continue to recognize the disproportionate number of Black female bloggers and advocate for inclusion in media. One of my goals is to be an inspiration to women of color everywhere that starting a blog and succeeding at it is very possible. I enjoy sharing my experiences with fashion and skincare and sharing stories about home building with my husband, Will. My work with social media and influencer marketing has been featured in LA Times, Today, Business Insider, Yahoo News, HuffPost, and more. I am also the recipient of the 2019 InfluenceHer of the Year Award.
Xaviera Bryant – IceCreamConvos
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I’ve been a full-time blogger since 2014 after I quit my job. IceCreamConvos is an entertainment website. I cover entertainment news with humanity and with a fresh fun and friendly perspective. My guiding philosophy is to treat each story and each person I write about with the same courtesy and empathy I will like to be treated with. A lot of people forget about the humanity of celebrities. They may be more well known or have access to more things but they are still humans and a lot of people forget that. There are many challenges to being a publisher, however, IceCreamConvos has grown to make six figures annually and in 2020 my husband quit his job and started working with me on IceCreamConvos.
Jacqueline Stevens – Jacqueline Stevens Blog
Hello, I’m Jacqueline – the woman, the wife, and the mom of the Jacqueline Stevens community on Instagram and the Jacqueline Stevens Blog. You’ll find me utilizing these outlets as a form of therapy. In 2016, my battles with anxiety and depression hit an all-time high; and yet, I was afraid of getting help because of the stigma associated with mental health. Thanks to my husband, I found a culturally competent therapist and in doing so he saved my life – mentally, physically, and emotionally! I am a now mental health advocate. I encourage anyone suffering from a mental illness to seek help. It is my goal that by sharing my story on various creative platforms, I can help de-stigmatize mental health, inspire others to seek their own healing, and encourage women to be their most authentic selves.
Tyrel Hunt – Gritty Vibes
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I founded Grittyvibes in 2017 because I didn’t feel represented in mainstream media. When I couldn’t score an internship in my field out of college, I figured I’d carve out my own experience by becoming the change that I wish to see. I take pride in prioritizing black up-and-coming creatives, rather than celebrities who are already established. I want people to know that what I do is truly genuine. I’ve interviewed hundreds of artists but what I love most are the friendships I’ve made and the careers that I get to watch take off from the very beginning.
Nikki May – Deal Finding Diva
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I am Nikki also known as the Deal Finding Diva. I am a Philadelphia-based Content Creator and mom. I am a member of the Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists and I have a degree in Communications in Theater from Temple University. I started Dealfindingdiva in 2014 as a way to show family and friends how to save money. In 2015, I created the Deal Finding Diva YouTube channel. I did this while working full-time. In 2020 when the pandemic hit, I stopped working to be a stay-at-home mom and homeschool my daughter. I used this time to focus on my platforms and within two months I started earning income from my creative projects. I went on to audition to voice an audiobook and that led to three contracts. My audiobook success exposed me to a larger audience which grew my Youtube Channel. I create content to show my followers and my daughter that no matter the circumstance, you can successfully earn the lifestyle you have always wanted.
Maria Hammonds – Deep Fried Honey
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Deep Fried Honey started on Instagram when I started posting meals I make for my family. It grew incredibly fast and completely unexpectedly, and the recipe requests became overwhelming. I’m a helper by nature, so I learned how to write recipes and the food blog was born. Now, a few years into it, providing “what’s for dinner tonight?” inspiration and writing recipes has become my full-time job! I never saw myself becoming a content creator and there have been some growing pains for sure. This whole thing looks much easier from the outside, but it’s been the most rewarding job I’ve ever had, especially in my particular niche. I’m a self-taught cook that learned most of what I know from watching Food Network. Now, I’m passing my knowledge on to others, and in a way that purposefully encourages people to respect every individual’s personal relationship with food, starting with making space for the picky kids in their lives.
Heather Fletcher – The Fit Foodie Life
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I am a fitness enthusiast, foodie, and traveler. My website The Fit Foodie Life is about health and wellness and diversity in wellness. I started The Fit Foodie Life because I saw a need for people in communities of color to see people who looked like them setting an example for wellness. I have a master’s degree in exercise physiology, I’ve taught dance for seven years, been a dancer for 20 years, and I’m also a former competitive bodybuilder. I want to show people that living a healthy lifestyle is sustainable and fun. There is a lack of education in black communities about health and wellness, and young people have health conditions that are preventable through lifestyle. If I can get only one person to change their lifestyle, that’s an accomplishment for me.
Aisha Johnson – AishaBeau
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In 2015, after being stopped on numerous occasions by other women inquiring about my makeup and skincare routines, I decided it was time to create my own platform. AishaBeau originated as a beauty blog, but over the years manifested itself into a digital destination covering self-care as a whole. From beauty to lifestyle, and personal development, each post emphasizes the importance of internal and external well-being. The throughline of my content is self-love. Unearthing, leaning deeper, and holding space for all that brings us joy and fulfillment. I don’t ask my audience to use self-care as a way of changing, instead, I share that it’s all about finding your way back to the root, the core, of who you are.
Mercedes Diane Griffin Forbes – DG Speaks
As the Chief Freedom Officer (CFO) at DG Speaks, my message is all about living a life fueled by passion, leading by example, and empowering those around me to do the same by speaking my truth. At DG Speaks, my team and I highlight women and people of color who are providing innovative and unique ways to impact society. We also focus on providing stories that give insights into diverse points of view. We look at things through the female gaze, through the lens of the voiceless, and from the perspectives of the sidekicks.
Jacqueline lynch – Xoxojackie
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Xoxojackie is a space to embrace my creativity and show off the small moments that bring me joy. Xoxojackie features home improvement, DIY decor projects, my adventures in keeping 50+ thriving plants in my small apartment. Whether it is my latest imperfect DIY art piece or propagated plant – I love to share the things that bring me joy and hope to inspire others to find their joy.
The SHE Media Collective helps publishers, content creators and entrepreneurs build sustainable businesses with dedicated support for managing ads, brand partnerships, and more. Apply now to join our mission-driven platform.