So far, the project has highlighted the contributions of Swoozie to the world of storytime animation and Nyma Tang’s inclusivity in the beauty industry. YouTube will also be showcasing the origin of the 2006 chicken noodle soup dance, which rapper Young B. Pettit refers to the phenomenon as the first viral dance trend on the internet.

Some Black Youtubers have successfully crossed over to traditional forms of entertainment. Preston Mutanga’s skill for stop-motion Lego turned into a job on Spiderman: Across The Spider-Verse.

“There’s opportunity for Black creators — not just to be successful, but to have a major impact on culture and in the way that we experience the internet,” Pettit said. “I find that to be inspirational, and I hope that Black creators also continue to find that to be inspirational.”

Marissa Hill

Get relevant content delivered to you once a week