I often joke that my life has become a series of recurring TikToks — and I’m certainly not alone. The addicting app that’s managed to appeal to each and every demographic has not only become a fixture of nearly everyone’s phone, but is also a breeding ground for Black creators to thrive and flex their creativity.
That said, it was only right that the beloved platform brought its talents and resources to the ESSENCE Festival Of Culture last month. They did so through a series of activations, including an intimate seated dinner, titled Visionary Voices, to celebrate some of the most prevalent Black talent on the beloved app.
ESSENCE of course was in attendance to witness all of the magic.
“It was an honor to team up with ESSENCE and celebrate the collective impact and brilliance of the #BlackTikTok community, right alongside some of our most-inspiring, visionary Black creators,” says Shavone Charles, Head of Diversity & Inclusion Communications, TikTok. “Year-round, we’re dedicated to supporting the #BlackTikTok community and amplifying the voices of Black creators who continue to inspire and shape the future of entertainment.”
Indulging in an evening of top-shelf cocktails and a menu that truly embodied the rich cuisine of New Orleans, creators such as Deandre Brown, Pierrah and Emmanuel Duverneau sat alongside Vanessa Craft, Global Head of Lifestyle & Education, TikTok, CeCe Vu, Head Of Beauty & Fashion Partnerships, TikTok and Alexzi Girma, Black Creator Community Development Manager.
The conversations (which were marked by immense laughter and joy) included the resounding love for the platform, what the team is doing to further amplify Black creators and strides being made to protect intellectual property.
The dinner concluded a slew of other times that TikTok showed up and showed out for the weekend. Other activations included a content-worth pop-up where attendees could capture photos and videos and interface with Black creators, as well as panels that took place both at Beauty Carnival and Wellness House.
The weekend marked the inception of a beautiful marriage between ESSENCE and TikTok, and was yet another instance where the platform shows just how much it values us and our creativity.