Black History Month w/ Horizon

It’s October, which here in the UK means it’s Black History Month and we’re here to celebrate and elevate the voices of our Black creators. We sat down with them to talk about their journeys as content creators and what it’s like to be Black in the world of gaming and content creation. Here at Horizon, we have a continued dedication to providing a safe space for all of our creators, and open lines of communication like this are paramount to achieving this. 

So, let’s dive into the questions and see what PurfectLioness, BlackBoye, Amenyah, FizzeeDee, and InDeeDee had to say!

Introduce yourself, your community and your channel!

Purfect: Hi! My name is Keera/PurfectLioness and I’m from Atlanta, Georgia. I’m a dedicated full time content creator who finds joy in a variety of games and believes in creating a welcoming space for everyone. My community is a diverse group of individuals from all over the world and we are known as the Purfect Squad!

BlackBoye: My names BlackBoye or Lucas and I’m a 26 year old content creator from London, UK who primarily plays Apex but I also play a variety of other games. I started my streaming journey back in February 2019 and turned full time in December 2021 after falling in love with it all. My community is my family, we have people from all walks of life, who are welcoming to all and have become great friends through spending their time supporting me (They also love to wind me up). 

Amenyah: My aim is to keep travelling the world making football content until one day I can work with Arsenal and have TV appearances m on Sky Sports etc.

Fizzee: I’m Fizzee Dee aka Fizzee! My community known as the Soda Squad is filled with lovely, hilarious and kind people who truly make this whole streaming thing worth it. They bring all the vibes and joy every time they’re in chat and I love them all dearly.

InDeeDee: Hi I’m InDeeDee or Dee for short, I’m a variety content creator and Twitches number 1 panic streamer. My community believe in the safe space we’ve created and welcome everyone to chill with us.

Who inspires you as a content creator?

Purfect: One of my biggest inspirations is Valkyrae! I was watching Valkyrae long before I started streaming myself. Seeing her chase after what she loved pushed me to do the same. She’s such a genuine person in everything she does & I want to be that same ray of sunshine to my community.

BlackBoye: There are way too many creators who inspire me in a number of different ways so it would be unfair to only name a few.

Amenyah: Having worked with Filly I rate the way he takes his job proper serious and is always polite and humble towards everyone on set. I also feel motivated to keep making football content whenever I watch the guys on SDS Football Pod getting more and more opportunities.

Fizzee: I’ve always been inspired to create even from a wee age whether it was in music (I can play four instruments), acting, comedy (standup and sketch) and now with content creation. I just love entertaining and it brings me a great sense of satisfaction knowing when I’ve brought joy to someone’s otherwise hard day. 

InDeeDee: There are several people who inspire me. The Black Girl Gamers community, Black Twitch UK and all those that believe in what I do as a creator.

What are your goals for your stream/ brand?

Purfect: One of my most significant goals as a content creator is to inspire and uplift my audience. I want to use my platform to motivate and bring positivity to people’s lives, fostering a supportive and encouraging online community.

BlackBoye: My main goal currently is to become one of the UK’s largest Apex content creators with my larger main target to become one of the UK’s largest variety content creators. These may change as within this space things constantly change including my direction and what I want to do!

Amenyah: My aim is to keep travelling the world making football content until one day I can work with Arsenal and have TV appearances m on Sky Sports etc

Fizzee: I would LOVE to be able to grow my community and share our vibes with more people. Our chill but fun vibes keep new folk around whenever they roll through so I’d love to just be able to get more people to join the party.

InDeeDee: I want to be a face of Twitch, I want to be an advocate for mental health awareness and spread the word of possibilities to everyone.

What do you think of the current state of Black representation in games and media?

Purfect: I personally believe progress has been made, but challenges and disparities still exist. I think it’s important to continually work toward more diversity and have these conversations more.

BlackBoye: I feel like it’s slowly improving especially within games nowadays. I’m fortunate enough to play Apex which is very diverse and represents all. In media there’s still a way to go but I think it’s only a matter of time with creators like Kai Cenat paving the way now.

Amenyah: The black representation is improving over time. More opportunities are being given to those who work hard and deserve it.

Fizzee: I feel that POCs and in particular, Black POCs, are always swept under the rug unless it’s our “allotted” spotlight times ie. Black History Month. We are nowhere near given the same opportunities as our fairer-skinned counterparts. I feel that a lot of that stems from it being easier to market or promote Caucasian people because it’s been status quo for so long. These days, it’s refreshing to see more Black people finally being given the same opportunities based on their merit and not just ticking off a diversity box.

InDeeDee: It’s minimal BUT over time it is improving. 

Do you think the games industry can improve it’s current representation of Black people and culture?

Purfect: Absolutely! I believe there’s always room for improvement. I’m optimistic that the games industry can enhance its representation of Black people and culture with dedicated efforts and inclusivity.

BlackBoye: Of course. There is always room for improvement with everything in life.

Fizzee: 100% As a 37 year old woman, I’ve grown with the gaming industry. There was once a time when my in-game avatar could never be a Black woman. Nowadways, it’s progressed a bit more as select gaming companies are ensuring that they are more inclusive with their avatar creation. Knowing that some little girl or boy out there is super excited because their Pokemon character looks just like them brings joy to my old heart.

InDeeDee: Of course they can, there are so many of us that are fantastic creators, but are not given the opportunity to shine. This is anything from content creating to being in games themselves, to even spearheading a popular brand.

Is there anyone either within or outside of the industry you think is a great champion of Black communities and culture?

Purfect: One of my favorite content creators, BigBossBoze, is a great champion of the black community. She’s a true crime fanatic and big mental health advocate who has created an empire of a community.

BlackBoye: Within the industry there are definitely a few such as Kai Cenat, Ebonix and Sharese! 

Amenyah: Ian Wright is the reason my Dad started supporting Arsenal and even after his football career he continues to champion Black culture on social media and even live on TV.

Fizzee: This person is outside of the gaming industry but a big champion of Black communities and culture that I’ve admired even in my teenage years is Issa Rae. She creates art that really allows Black people not only to be showcased but shine. Like she said, “I’m rooting for everybody Black”.

InDeeDee: I would say myself as well as people like GeekyCassie, Gleaney, SheGamerXO and many more.

What’s the biggest challenge for you personally as a creator?

Purfect: My biggest challenge as a content creator would have to be managing my time effectively. There’s just not enough time in the day sometimes and it can be a bit stressful.

BlackBoye: The biggest challenge I face as a content creator is coming up with new content ideas and also trying to balance all of it to keep a healthy work/life balance and not burnout.

Amenyah: The biggest challenge is balancing doing what you enjoy vs doing what gets the best numbers.

Fizzee: My procrastination! It’s something that I’m currently working on but I’ll get back to it later.

InDeeDee: Moving from london to Australia. Because the change in demographic has been very challenging for me.

Support the Black community

Remember, supporting Black people is not just an exercise for Black History Month – it’s essential throughout the year. If you’re financially able, consider donating to one of the following charities that work to support, elevate, and advocate for Black people; make sure to always support Black-owned businesses, and stand up for racism wherever you see it.

• Stop Hate UK 
• UK Black Pride 
• Stop Watch UK 
• Show Racism the Red Card
• NAACP
• NAACP Legal & Defense Fund
• Thurgood Marshall College Fund
• 100 Black Men of America
• ACLU Foundation
• The National Black Child Development Institute
• The National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE)
• Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC)
• YMCA of Metropolitan Washington