About

A Space for Black Creatives to Thrive & Grow

The Black Creative Collective was born from a simple but powerful idea: to create a space where Black creatives, professionals, and business owners can thrive. In a world where Black stories are often overlooked, we’re here to ensure they are told, celebrated, and uplifted.

The current political and cultural climate underscores the need for spaces that amplify Black voices. The Black Creative Collective serves as a resource and platform to highlight the ingenuity, resilience, and contributions of Black people worldwide. We’re here to ensure that our stories are not only told but celebrated and preserved.

We exist to showcase the accomplishments of Black individuals, provide access to valuable resources, and spark meaningful conversations. From sharing inspiring success stories to offering tools for growth, our mission is rooted in empowerment, equity, and excellence.

Closing the Gap: Empowering Black Creatives and Entrepreneurs

Black creatives and entrepreneurs have made significant strides in recent years, yet they continue to face unique challenges. For instance, Black-owned businesses account for approximately 2.3% of all U.S. businesses, despite African Americans comprising 14.2% of the population. Additionally, Black entrepreneurs receive only about 1% of venture capital funding, highlighting the need for increased support and resources.

The Black Creative Collective aims to bridge these gaps and foster greater opportunities for Black creatives and professionals by providing a platform that showcases Black talent and offers essential resources.

The advertising industry’s investment in Black-owned media has grown significantly in recent years, yet it still represents a small fraction of total ad spending. In 2022, spending with Black-owned media companies reached $880 million, nearly tripling since 2020. However, this amount accounted for only 1.16% of total advertising expenditures.

Major brands have made public commitments to increase their spending with Black-owned media. For example, General Motors pledged to allocate 4% of its advertising budget to Black-owned media by 2022 and aims for 8% by 2025. Similarly, McDonald’s announced plans to increase its U.S. investment in diverse-owned media companies, production shops, and content creators by 2024.

Despite these commitments, challenges persist. A survey of seven Black-owned media companies revealed that, among the top 100 advertisers, only 67 allocated any spending to these media outlets in 2023. While there was a 24% increase in spending from these advertisers, a third spent nothing with the surveyed Black-owned media companies over the past two years.

These statistics underscore the ongoing need for increased support and investment in Black-owned media to achieve greater equity in advertising expenditures.