The 17th Annual Conversation on Race and Entertainment Media

Tonight, Jonathan Jackson, co-founder and head of Blavity, spoke to the students of Newhouse about inclusion and black empowerment through #media and #technology. The conversation was refreshing, going into detail on the evolution of black representation in media and how it is blossoming in sync with the growth of technology.

Although Jackson didn't start by talking about his personal #blackness and how he'd define it in general terms, I found it to be one of the most powerful statements he made. Jackson stated, with pride, "black people aren't monolithic, although they are monumental."

Jonathan Jackson, Co-founder, head of corporate brand, Blavity

Everyday, the media puts black people into a box. This, in itself, is an injustice because blackness is complex. It changes depending on your ethnic roots, race, upbringing, as well as a number of other factors that are influential elements of everyday life. Jackson shared that his blackness comes from his Afro-Caribbean and Mississippian roots. His family was another significant part of his identity because they taught him to value resilience, radiate pride, and continuously grow as an individual, despite the media's portrayal of black people. This insight resonated with me to my core because I've always heard what black people can't or shouldn't do, which has bruised my confidence. It has caused me feel like a failure, before I've even had an opportunity to really start my life. From what I could tell, Jackson felt the same way, but he taught himself to have faith in himself and his peers. Finding yet another eloquent way to explain his thoughts, he said, "I kept thinking blackness is the idea of the lack of. It's still a heavily pushed idea in media today. I had to unlearn that. I needed to open my eyes to what I have seen and the things [black] people have done that's great." Blavity is proof of his efforts.

The media and tech company has monetized the idea of community and affinity, creating digital experiences that demonstrates Blavity understands the black community. In reference to AfroTech, a conference by Blavity, Jackson explained that they take on a range of clients, making sure to approve of projects that are respectful; often times they have to reject clients. As Jackson puts it, artists need to "own their masters" and consider whether they are doing right by the people they said they were building the platform to support. Moving forward, as more black media and tech companies are established, it is important that they uplift the black community and invalidate the media outlets that are reinforcing black stereotypes. We are living in a time of the greatest generational, media, and identity shifts in history. Fortunately, the younger generations are recognizing that their blackness is not "paramount," but important along with other parts of their identity, as Professor and moderator of the discussion, Charisse L'Pree put it. As more people recognize this, media outlets will have to as well. To conclude the discussion, Jackson ended unapologetically declaring, "we are going to get where we are going whether it's wanted or not."

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