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https://www.essence.com/news/storycorps-and-jordan-brightness-in-black-initiative/
StoryCorps, a national nonprofit dedicated to elevating the voices of everyday individuals, has launched a groundbreaking new initiative, Brightness in Black. In collaboration with Michael Jordan and the Jordan Brand’s Black Community Commitment, this three-year project aims to spotlight Black stories in a way that changes the narrative and celebrates the joy and diverse richness of Black life.
To delve deeper into this multi-year initiative, ESSENCE sat down with StoryCorps CEO Sandra Clark. She emphasized that Brightness in Black goes beyond traditional storytelling and seeks to reshape how Black stories are told and received. Launched in September, the project launched in Philadelphia and Atlanta—two cities deeply rooted in Black culture and history.
Clark began by emphasizing that Brightness in Black is rooted in the core mission of StoryCorps—to let people tell their own stories in their own voices. “StoryCorps, over the last 20 years, has really crossed the country, collecting stories from everyday people. And what we know about those stories is that when people get to tell their own stories in their own voices about what’s most important to them…it becomes a legacy,” Clark shared. “These stories knitted together are the real story of America.”
As Clark explained, this initiative is not just about documenting experiences; it’s about addressing the oversimplified and often negative narratives surrounding Black lives. “Our stories are often oversimplified. The narratives about our lives are often very limited,” she said, reflecting on how Black communities are typically portrayed in media. Brightness in Blackis a chance to flip the script—to focus on the nuance, the joy, and the aspirations that aren’t always given the spotlight.
Brightness in Black officially launched in Philadelphia and Atlanta in September, and Clark explained that choice wasn’t just about demographics; it was about history, community strength, and local partnerships “These cities have such rich Black histories, and the people there are no strangers to the work of changing the narrative,” Clark said.
StoryCorps isn’t just parachuting in and asking people to tell their stories. Clark explained that the project relies heavily on collaboration with community organizations, creatives, and educators in those cities. “We’re working with local partners—organizations and educators who have been doing this work for a long time. They understand the power of storytelling and the importance of capturing the full scope of Black life,” she said.
Through partnerships with HBCUs, community organizations and local creatives, Brightness in Black will begin with storytelling events, recording sessions and workshops designed to engage both individuals and larger communities. “It’s not just about coming in to record stories and leaving,” Clark explained. “We’re creating connections, working with local leaders to make sure this initiative feels deeply rooted in the communities.”
One of the initiative’s key pillars is changing the typical narrative that focuses on struggle. Clark shared that while the difficult parts of the Black experience cannot be ignored, there’s so much more that needs to be highlighted, too.
“We, as Black folks, are so used to telling our stories starting with trauma, difficulty, and hardship. And while those experiences are certainly part of our lives, there’s so much more to our story. Brightness in Black gives us the space to talk about our dreams, aspirations and joy in everyday life. We want to focus on the brilliance of Black life in all its forms,” said Clark.
The initiative includes in-person and virtual opportunities for people to share their stories through the StoryCorps app, community-based storytelling sessions, and StoryCorps Connect, which allows friends and family to record conversations from wherever they are.
Black joy and Black fatherhood are examples of the kinds of stories Clark said the initiative hopes to amplify. So, what happens to all of these powerful stories once shared? The recordings collected throughout the three-year initiative will be archived in the Library of Congress, ensuring that these stories become part of the historical record. Beyond that, the stories will be shared widely—through radio, podcasts, and local events that bring these narratives to life in their communities.
“Narrative change works best when everyone gets to hear the stories,” Clark said. “It’s not just about sharing our stories with each other in Black communities—it’s about the wider world hearing these stories, too. That’s how we shift perspectives.”
Each city involved in Brightness in Black will have opportunities to feature these stories locally, ensuring that the people of Philadelphia, Atlanta and other future cities hear reflections of their own community in meaningful ways. As Brightness in Black continues to roll out over the next three years, Clark is excited about the project’s potential impact. “This isn’t just a collection of stories—it’s a movement to reshape how Black life is viewedand appreciated,” she said.
“We want to make sure that at the end of this initiative, we’ve created a lasting legacy for future generations to look back on and see the full picture of Black life in America.”
TOPICS: Brightness In Black share black stories StoryCorps tell black stories
The post Telling Our Stories: How StoryCorps And The Jordan Brand Will Amplify Black Voices With The “Brightness In Black” Initiative appeared first on Essence.
StoryCorps, a national nonprofit dedicated to elevating the voices of everyday individuals, has launched a groundbreaking new initiative, Brightness in Black. In collaboration with Michael Jordan and the Jordan Brand’s Black Community Commitment, this three-year project aims to spotlight Black stories in a way that changes the narrative and celebrates the joy and diverse richness of Black life.
To delve deeper into this multi-year initiative, ESSENCE sat down with StoryCorps CEO Sandra Clark. She emphasized that Brightness in Black goes beyond traditional storytelling and seeks to reshape how Black stories are told and received. Launched in September, the project launched in Philadelphia and Atlanta—two cities deeply rooted in Black culture and history.
Clark began by emphasizing that Brightness in Black is rooted in the core mission of StoryCorps—to let people tell their own stories in their own voices. “StoryCorps, over the last 20 years, has really crossed the country, collecting stories from everyday people. And what we know about those stories is that when people get to tell their own stories in their own voices about what’s most important to them…it becomes a legacy,” Clark shared. “These stories knitted together are the real story of America.”
As Clark explained, this initiative is not just about documenting experiences; it’s about addressing the oversimplified and often negative narratives surrounding Black lives. “Our stories are often oversimplified. The narratives about our lives are often very limited,” she said, reflecting on how Black communities are typically portrayed in media. Brightness in Blackis a chance to flip the script—to focus on the nuance, the joy, and the aspirations that aren’t always given the spotlight.
Brightness in Black officially launched in Philadelphia and Atlanta in September, and Clark explained that choice wasn’t just about demographics; it was about history, community strength, and local partnerships “These cities have such rich Black histories, and the people there are no strangers to the work of changing the narrative,” Clark said.
StoryCorps isn’t just parachuting in and asking people to tell their stories. Clark explained that the project relies heavily on collaboration with community organizations, creatives, and educators in those cities. “We’re working with local partners—organizations and educators who have been doing this work for a long time. They understand the power of storytelling and the importance of capturing the full scope of Black life,” she said.
Through partnerships with HBCUs, community organizations and local creatives, Brightness in Black will begin with storytelling events, recording sessions and workshops designed to engage both individuals and larger communities. “It’s not just about coming in to record stories and leaving,” Clark explained. “We’re creating connections, working with local leaders to make sure this initiative feels deeply rooted in the communities.”
One of the initiative’s key pillars is changing the typical narrative that focuses on struggle. Clark shared that while the difficult parts of the Black experience cannot be ignored, there’s so much more that needs to be highlighted, too.
“We, as Black folks, are so used to telling our stories starting with trauma, difficulty, and hardship. And while those experiences are certainly part of our lives, there’s so much more to our story. Brightness in Black gives us the space to talk about our dreams, aspirations and joy in everyday life. We want to focus on the brilliance of Black life in all its forms,” said Clark.
The initiative includes in-person and virtual opportunities for people to share their stories through the StoryCorps app, community-based storytelling sessions, and StoryCorps Connect, which allows friends and family to record conversations from wherever they are.
Black joy and Black fatherhood are examples of the kinds of stories Clark said the initiative hopes to amplify. So, what happens to all of these powerful stories once shared? The recordings collected throughout the three-year initiative will be archived in the Library of Congress, ensuring that these stories become part of the historical record. Beyond that, the stories will be shared widely—through radio, podcasts, and local events that bring these narratives to life in their communities.
“Narrative change works best when everyone gets to hear the stories,” Clark said. “It’s not just about sharing our stories with each other in Black communities—it’s about the wider world hearing these stories, too. That’s how we shift perspectives.”
Each city involved in Brightness in Black will have opportunities to feature these stories locally, ensuring that the people of Philadelphia, Atlanta and other future cities hear reflections of their own community in meaningful ways. As Brightness in Black continues to roll out over the next three years, Clark is excited about the project’s potential impact. “This isn’t just a collection of stories—it’s a movement to reshape how Black life is viewedand appreciated,” she said.
“We want to make sure that at the end of this initiative, we’ve created a lasting legacy for future generations to look back on and see the full picture of Black life in America.”
TOPICS: Brightness In Black share black stories StoryCorps tell black storiesThe post Telling Our Stories: How StoryCorps And The Jordan Brand Will Amplify Black Voices With The “Brightness In Black” Initiative appeared first on Essence.
Oh Neko. This convention was truly the last bit of calm before the electoral storm.
Nekocon 2024 was held in Hampton Roads, Virginia with around 6,000 attendees, this annual convention celebrates Japanese culture with a wide variety of entertainment. With panels, workshops, masquerade, AMV contest, a video game room, and so much more, it’s no wonder many consider this a cozy anime getaway.
It’s been close to ten years since I last had the opportunity to attend Nekocon, so I was beyond grateful to witness glory at this small, but mighty convention.
This was Nekocon’s 26th year, so it was no stranger to the tricks and pitfalls of con-going. Weebs flocked to Hampton Roads Convention Center. Strolling through the sunlight-dappled hallways, there was plenty of space to pursue all the goods and treats in the Artist’s Alley and Dealer’s Room.
Artist’s Alley was my favorite part of the convention. My wallet hated it, but that’s the story for every con I attend. Artist’s Alleys are almost always a hit for me personally, and they didn’t disappoint at Nekocon this year.
This year’s Nekocon was a lovely dip back into the convention scene.
It was not overcrowded. There was plenty of room to scope out the merchandise without feeling rushed. There was also lots of room to stop and ask to take pictures of cosplayers without creating a traffic jam. *Side Note* I do wish more people were wearing masks. It is flu and cold season, so that was a bit of a bummer to see. (The con’s public health policy “encouraged and permitted attendees and staff to wear masks if they choose”, but did not require them.)
It was pretty awesome to see Nekocon choose to implement an author’s alley section of the artist alley. This was the inaugural year where they had newbie authors present their works. They had their table set up. It was pretty awesome being able to talk to each of the authors down a line one right after the other. It was interesting to hear about the work that they had published, and I even went ahead and purchased a volume for myself.
I picked up a copy of Strange Taste: Volume One created by Kaela Peters. Originally launched on Kickstarter, it is a full colored dystopian comic about a future where cannibalism is legal and profitable. The first volume in an ongoing series. The comic first found an audience thanks to Webtoons. The creator Kaela, is a comic creator and illustrator based in Richmond, VA! They graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with a BFA in Communication Arts, and they currently work at VCU and post bi-weekly updates of Strange Taste online. It was so great to not only see the locals creatives but also support them–I am super excited to read their work!
I was only able to attend Nekocon the Saturday of the weekend, but it was clear how beloved this convention is. The staff were helpful and eager to keep the machine well-oiled and running. I was so happy to witness it again. There was so much joy in those hallways, and I am so grateful. I hope to attend again next year. Until then, stay safe weebs!
NekoCon: Annual 3-Day Anime Convention in Hampton, Virginia! Virginia’s Longest Running Anime Convention!
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The post NekoCon 2024: Mewths & Legends Con Review appeared first on Black Nerd Problems.
A currently untitled J.J. Abrams feature film with Warner Bros. continues to grow its cast, which includes Jenna Ortega, Glen Powell, and Emma Mackey. This trio is expected to lead this film, which is rumored to involve time travel. The latest person to potentially join this Abrams project is Samuel L. Jackson, who is currently in talks for a key role. We don’t know what it could be, but we are sure that he will rock it no matter what.
Right now, all details are closely under wraps. But The Hollywood Reporter says that filming will commence in the UK in spring 2025. That means we probably won’t know much about this film until next summer or even fall but an Abrams and Samuel L. Jackson movie sounds like a good time. And, this doesn’t seem to be related to whatever project Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson hinted at on his IG page a while back. Hmmm. We are curious for sure.
The post Samuel L. Jackson in Talks to Star in J.J. Abrams Mystery Film appeared first on Nerdist.