Two years after launching her production company Hoorae Media, bringing all her projects under a single multimedia umbrella, Issa Rae is teaming up with retail giant Walmart for the Black & Unlimited Digital Development Program. The partnership program aims to support emerging Black talent on their path to becoming successful content creators.
Issa Rae was an emerging content creator herself, trying to find a space for her unique vision. Initially airing her first web series “Misadventures of an Awkward Black Girl” on YouTube eventually led to her hit TV shows on HBO, “Insecure” and “Rap Sh!t.”
“With the support of the Black & Unlimited Digital Development initiative, the selected creators will expand their brands and develop their voices in our underrepresented industry,” said Rae in an official statement.
In addition to organized courses and mentorship with industry professionals, the Black & Unlimited Digital Development Initiative also offers its first nine creators a stipend of $10,000. According to the program, this sum is “to offset pay inequities traditionally experienced by Black creators and help them focus on limitless discovery and creation.” Walmart is set to feature all the creators on their YouTube channel as part of their “Black & Unlimited” series.
The fact that all nine creators will get their start in this program by being featured on Walmart’s YouTube channel Is particularly symbolic since, as mentioned, Rae began her web series on YouTube as well.
“There’s so much more to being a creator than developing content and sharing it with the world. We are excited to collaborate with HOORAE for the first time to provide Black Creators with the tools, resources, and education they need to be successful through this innovative program,” added D.J. Vaughn, director of Multicultural Media Partnerships at Walmart.
The first class of creators is focused on building their careers on platforms like TikTok, YouTube and Instagram. They are Tyris Winter, Alex Hill, Chef Shaiheem, Mariah Jae, Amanda S. Wicks, Archie Jay, Destiny Aaiyana, Brelynn Hunt and Cam Sullivan-Brown.
