TikTok was once seen solely as a place entertain with the latest dances, skits and pranks, but here are seven Black TikTok creators from Canada using the platform to create change.
February is Black History Month – an opportunity to recognize and remember the contributions of Black people in Canada. This Black History Month and year-round, TikTok is celebrating the contributions of Black creators who continue to spark inspiration and creativity through content on the entertainment platform.
From originating viral moments, to teaching forgotten Black history and championing Black Joy through music, fashion, wellness and more, the #BlackTikTok community is at the forefront of culture and innovation.
Below is a snapshot of TikTok creators who create change in culture and inspire action off the platform.
Destinee Wray | @destineewrayy
Destinee is a hair beauty influencer who expresses herself through hair and makeup. Her main goal is to create content hoping that young girls will begin to see the beauty in their hair. She strives to make content that educates and entertains her audience through tutorials, funny videos, and dancing. Above all, Destinee wants to make a platform that people feel happy engaging in.
Emmanuel Uddenberg | @emmanuel.uddenberg
Emmanuel Uddenberg is a creator who combines his passion for fashion and creativity through videos on TikTok. His taste in minimalism and modern aesthetics and his relaxed demeanor permeate across his account, resulting in a calming space for those looking for everyday style inspiration. He is the only Canadian on the first-ever Visionary Voices List honoring Black creatives, small business owners and culture changemakers on TikTok who are making an impact and raising the bar in media and entertainment.
Taylor Lindsay-Noel | @accessbytay
Fifteen years ago, Taylor was a Canadian national gymnast, but in 2008, had a devastating accident that instantly paralyzed her from the neck down. Now, Taylor is a motivational speaker, disability advocate and owner of Cup of Té Luxury Loose Leaf Teas, which was featured on Oprah’s Favourite Things List 2020. She uses her platform to educate audiences about a range of topics including business, entrepreneurship, accessibility and inclusion.
Fayola Benjamin | @thefayolajameeshow
Upon returning to Canada from Barbados, Fayola realized a lot of her history was not acknowledged by mainstream Canada. Lawyer by day, Fayola turned to TikTok to share stories of Canada’s hidden Black History. Chronicling about Black hair maps to Toronto’s first taxi cab service – which was a black-owned business – Fayola has been able to educate her growing community on Black History through digestible and interesting content.
Hindz | @hindzsight
Hindz is a mindful artist and storyteller, who promotes positive energy and encourages soulful living. He is also the host of his daily podcast, In Hindzsight.
Shannae Ingleton-Smith | @torontoshay
Shannae is a creator, strategist, and entrepreneur. Setting her sights on social media, she left her job at Rogers Communications to build a dedicated following of over 70,000 supporters as @TorontoShay, creating content in the beauty, fashion, and lifestyle spaces. Fueled by her own experiences as a Black creator, she then founded the influencer management agency, Kensington Grey, alongside her husband in 2019 – amassing over 1000 successful campaigns to date.
Afia Amoako | @eatwithafia
Afia runs Eat with Afia, a TikTok account with over half a million followers where she highlights West African cooking and ingredients through a plant-based lifestyle. Afia tries to underscore the diversity of plant-based foods from the African continent while educating her audience on unique ingredients, cuisines and the beauty of African cultures through food.