Tray Kearney’s Post

Uglyassboi Entertainment uses their platform to amplify and uplift black voices in the entertainment industry by actively seeking out and promoting the work of black artists, creators, and performers. They showcase and feature black talent in their events, productions, and projects, providing opportunities for them to showcase their work and reach a wider audience. They also prioritize diverse and inclusive storytelling, ensuring that black voices and experiences are accurately and respectfully represented in their content. Additionally, they may use their platform to advocate for diversity and inclusion within the industry, and support initiatives and organizations that aim to uplift black voices in entertainment. Overall, Uglyassboi Entertainment uses their platform to create visibility and opportunities for black voices, ultimately amplifying their impact and influence in the entertainment industry.

This Black History Month, if you are looking for Black creatives to support, consider supporting my latest film project, The Off-Brands! As a fan of the teen movie/coming-of-age genre I felt like they didn’t reflect what my upbringing was like, especially coming-of-age in the Deep South. So, as a filmmaker I decided to change that. THE OFF-BRANDS is a coming-of-age comedy that follows Constance McKinney, a quirky teenager who tries to become recognized in her small town's high school for anything other than being sick. The film provides a diverse and inclusive community with an opportunity to find thrill, nostalgia, hope, and visibility through both the plot and its characters. By showcasing underrepresented communities - people with disabilities, Black southern culture, and Y2K - The Off-Brands has met its moment, and the themes and stories woven through it are ready to enter the public imagination. https://lnkd.in/eRjAAuKw Though we were able to shoot the film, but we still need the help of our community to bring this project to a screen near you: We are raising $12,500 in finishing funds to help us complete post-production for the proof of concept and ultimately get us into the BLACK. Our stretch goals include: $15,000 - This goal will satisfy all outstanding pre-production and principal photography debts. It will also take care of all post-production costs. $20,000- This goal will allow us to pay our above-the-line crew (producers, director, writer, etc.) who volunteered their talents towards making this project happen. $25,000 - This goal will allow us to pay our below-the-line crew for their prep days, travel, and overtime. If you are unable to donate, SHARE SHARE SHARE! The more eyes and engagement, the more we prove to the powers that be that our stories have an audience and are worth investing in. We appreciate you!

To celebrate #BlackHistoryMonth, we spoke with Sam White, director of Romeo and Juliet, about her experience in theatre, her sources of inspiration and the continued dialogue theatre must have to ensure diversity in the industry continues to grow. ✨ What inspires you creatively when making theatre? I'm not really interested in perfection as much as I am interested in work that is authentic and impactful. If you prepare and rehearse and show up, a show will be good. I'm more interested in how theatre makes people feel: from what they see to what they hear to what resonates in their heart space. I'm inspired by what hasn't been done more than what has been done before. I'm also inspired by new ways of doing things. The pandemic cleared my creative palate in many ways for new ideas, new energy, new techniques—new, new, new—while also honouring the past. I'm inspired by the idea of finding the balance between the two. ✨ As a Black artist working in theatre, what do you think of the current state of the industry/audience experience and how would you like to see it evolve? It's okay. I'll give it a strong C-. It's better than the D+ pre-pandemic. But I still don't see enough Black directors working at a high-level. And it would be awesome to see more Black artists and melanized people behind-the-scenes. I think the conversations have become whispers since 2020. But I am happy to continue shouting from the rooftops: More, more, more! ✨ Why is Black History Month important to celebrate within the community at large? It's important to remind people about the contributions Black folx have made to our collective history in North America. From infrastructure to creative spaces, we have made history and we're still here. A dedicated month is a cool way to continue to acknowledge what was and is. 📸: Ted Belton.

I get why Lenny Kravitz feels rejected by Black media. But before we begin to point fingers at Black outlets, if we go a little deeper, we’ll find the usual core issue with most stories like this: anti-Black racism in media. I doubt that Kravitz having a Black publicist would have changed his trajectory too much, either. Anti-Blackness in media runs so deep that most agency teams & publicists already have it engrained in their minds (whether consciously or unconsciously) that Black media just isn’t important enough. And in an industry where the client is always right, and said clients likely hold a lot of unconscious anti-Black beliefs, AND the culture of PR is one that disempowers challenging bias..do you see where this is going? There’s an underlying belief in media that even stories about Black people are better told by White people. It’s reflected in the demographics of the PR industry, where 2018 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics reveals that almost 90% of it is comprised of White workers. I’ve experienced it a countless amount of times where I’ve recommended including Black outlets & journalists in a media strategy, only to be met with silence or mockery. Unless it’s Black History Month, or aligning with Blackness is advantageous for the moment (i.e. the summer of 2020), Black media is consistently thought of as lesser. It doesn’t matter how stellar the reporting is — if it’s not Fortune, WSJ, or an outlet that White people are sure to read, many thought leaders/talent & their media team are deeply uninterested. I do hope that Lenny gets to shine at the BET Awards someday soon (my spidey senses tell me that now that he’s voiced this, he will). But more than anything, I also hope that the media industry becomes one that is more equitable, inclusive, and respectful of Black media and Black media professionals. https://lnkd.in/dMP_4HD5

Did Nationwide go Beyond the Surface for BHM 2024? Nationwide Insurance is celebrating Black History Month with Grammy-Award winning artist H.E.R. sharing Black music facts on their social channels. Check out the campaign and let us know if Nationwide went beyond the surface this BHM. Things To Consider: 🎵 Nationwide and H.E.R began their partnership in May 2022, as a part of the On Your Side Soundtracks campaign. 🎥 In 2023, Nationwide highlighted business owners and their positive impact to future generations via their Black History Makers YouTube series. 📄 The Insurance Industry has their own rich history of Black Americans breaking barriers, as well as a long history of racial discrimination. 👩🏾💻 Nationwide is not transparent with much of their diversity data, including Leadership team and Board of Directors. About Nationwide Insurance: ❓ Total Workforce: Undisclosed ❓ Corporate Leadership: Undisclosed ❓ Black Supplier Diversity $: Undisclosed 💰 2022 Revenue: $57B “in record sales“

I want Nationwide to dig deeper. I've worked with brands that want the "sexy" campaign, so I get it, but I think there is a way to combine cool with authentic. I did some research and learned 5 Black History Facts about the insurance industry that would have been great for Nationwide or any insurance company to share -- and working with a creator like Kahlil Greene, the Gen Z historian, would have checked the culturally relevant box. Here they are: 1️⃣ The African Insurance Company, established in 1810 in Philadelphia, is considered to be the first Black-owned insurance company in the United States. 2️⃣ In 1898, the North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company was founded by Aaron McDuffie Moore, John Merrick, and C.C. Spaulding, becoming one of the most successful Black-owned insurance companies 3️⃣ Black insurance companies emerged in response to discrimination by traditional white companies, which increased premiums and made insurance difficult or unaffordable for African Americans. These companies focused on "industrial insurance" or "burial insurance," providing vital financial services to the Black community. (Side Note: fact #3 is where Nationwide leans in to authentic Black history surrounding their industry at a critical time when many states want to censor it) 4️⃣ In 1905, Former slave Alonzo Franklin Herndon purchased a small benevolent association and, with the acquisition and reorganization of two other companies formed the Atlanta Mutual Insurance Association. The company became the largest Black-owned stockholder insurance company in America. 5️⃣ The Supreme Liberty Life Insurance Company, incorporated in 1919 in Chicago, became the first Black-owned insurance agency outside of the South. On top of uplifiting these facts, a donation to and partnership with orgs such as The International Association of Black Actuaries would create shared value. I also highly encourage Nationwide to be more transparent with their CSR/ESG Diversity data and I am looking forward to their 2023 CSR report. #blackhistorymonth #blackhistory #insuranceindustry #nationwide

PSA: Black creatives exist. Black voices and perspectives matter. There are Black professionals who are excelling in your industry. If you find yourself in a space or on a stage virtual and/or IRL or in a board room, where there are no Black people or there is only ONE token Black person, ask why? And if the answer is “we couldn’t find anyone” or there simply isn’t an answer or response to the call out—🚩🚩🚩 that’s a red flag and there is probably a need for reformation.

This year's #BlackHistoryMonth theme is “African Americans in the Arts." 🤎🎨 We’re celebrating the many contributions Black Americans have made in visual arts, music, culture, and more. Girl Scouts can learn all month long (or any time!) for a new #BlackHistoryMonth patch. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3uLrgu3

This #blackhistorymonth , let's not only celebrate Black excellence in music, art, and tech, but also in the often-overlooked realm of real estate! Black brilliance shines bright in this industry, from groundbreaking developers to savvy investors and dedicated agents. Together, let's showcase the diverse faces of success in real estate and continue paving the way for future generations. Remember, Black history is everywhere, and your story matters! #blackhistorymonth #blackhistorymonthGA  #blackhistorymonth #realestate  #realestatetips  #realestatelife  #realestategoals  #realestateagent  See less

Are we ready to start addressing the profit and public celebration of white artists drawing fetishizations of Black bodies, or are we still too close to the Black Square thing happening? For white artists, this is a moment to reflect, not defend yourselves. When we, as white artists, create and profit from works that exploit Black suffering or reduce Black bodies to exotic or erotic objects, it not only perpetuates harmful stereotypes but also takes up space that could be occupied by Black voices telling their own stories. It's about questioning whether our work contributes to an ongoing narrative that marginalizes and objectifies, or if it genuinely respects and uplifts. It's about moving beyond acknowledgment to action, questioning our consumption of art, and the narratives we endorse and elevate. Beyond artists, are we, as a community of art consumers, ready to not only address, but actively challenge and change the dynamics that allow the fetishization of Black bodies to be profitable and celebrated? Let's prove it.