YouTube has announced YouTube’s Black Voices Creator Class of 2022 for its multi-million funding program. They range in profession from music artists to entrepreneurs to lawyers.
The fund will back 135 global Black creatives.
The cohort includes 35 U.S. creators and five from Canada who will get funding, training, and other resources through the program, The Verge reported.
YouTube debuted its multi-year $100 million fund in 2020. Its focus is to amplify Black voices and stories online. In 2021, some of the grantees got nominated for an NAACP Image award and produced a Juneteenth special, PCMag reported.
The same year a group of Black YouTube creators sued the video-sharing platform for discrimination. In June 2020, A group of Black YouTube creators alleged that the platform had systematically removed their content without explanation.
The suit was filed in federal court in northern California and outlined alleged discrimination against four creators, who post YouTube videos to earn advertising revenue, The Washington Post reported.
YouTube unveiled its latest set of grant winners. Among them are bakers, crafters, teachers, comedians, athletes, vloggers, entrepreneurs, doctors, filmmakers, and more chosen to work with the company to build its brand and channel. The fund is, said the social media company, a chance to focus on is Black creators.
“Black creators have played an important role in shaping the culture on YouTube. From fashion and comedy to politics, learning, and wellness, Black creators have propelled our platform forward,” the company said in the announcement.
YouTube’s parent company is Google.
