Amazing YouTubers You Should Watch No Matter What You’re Into (And Oh Look They’re Black How About That)
I’m a rabid consumer of media and pop culture, and I realized it’s about time I share all my recommendations in one place — there are some great creators out there that more people should know about! These Black YouTube creators will brighten your day, expand your mind, upgrade your look, and improve your life. The infamously unpredictable YouTube algorithm can be hard on creators, so if you fall in love with one of these channels (spoiler alert: you will), be sure to follow and engage with them on as many of their platforms as you can, even outside of YouTube: Follow and comment on their Instagram content, sign up for their email newsletters and Patreons, watch their livestreams on Twitch, and buy small pieces of merch if you can — especially if they’re smaller channels!
This is a not-at-all-comprehensive, ever-growing list of the video creators I love (and that I think you’ll love too). Check back in for more names and titles as this list gets updated!
Pop Culture Analysis Channels To Help You Find Your New Favorite Show
Beat-by-beat breakdowns of the dialogue, story structures, and character arcs from popular TV shows and movies — from a professional book editor. An amazing resource if you’re (1) a writer working on improving your craft or (2) looking for somebody to point out something you hadn’t noticed about why your favorite show is even better than you thought it was.
Deeply-researched pop culture analyses of Millenial and Gen-Z touchstones like Skins and Lizzie McGuire, from a deadpan, sharply insightful lens. It’s obvious that this creator went to film school but also doesn’t take things too seriously. She also delivers a popping Y2K collage aesthetic and killer background music that’s just **chef’s kiss, chef’s kiss, sparkle sparkle** This channel made me realize how much I love pink and pixels.
Long, nostalgic trips through beloved cartoon shows, from popular titans like “The Proud Family” to deep cuts like “Mike, Lu & Og.” All with the premium, grade-A hip-hop and R&B remixes that serve as beautiful backing tracks for these videos. Watching them feels like having a hilarious argument with the art student in your dorm about that one show you both watched as kids.
Sewing & DIY Fashion Channels To Get You Looking Snatched on a Budget
Easy-to-follow tutorials for making clothing and accessories you wouldn’t even think to DIY: bodysuits, puffer jackets, Gucci sweatpants, fur stoles, earrings, prom dresses, and fanny packs! Fair warning: you will need to have a sewing machine for at least a few of these tutorials, but her fun personality and the final looks are absolutely worth it. This channel tricked me into thinking I could be an actual, proper, real-life baddie and for that I am forever grateful.
A small and scrappy no-production-frills channel that ironically produces looks that are (in my opinion) high-key editorial. The looks Dwayne crafts are extravagant and maximalist in their patterns, colors, and materials, and you get to see how the end-products look on real bodies of normal women.
Cooking & Food Review Channels to Feed Your Belly & Soul
Step-by-step walk-throughs of the colorful and balanced meals that are as lovely and exciting to look at as they are to eat. Seriously, this channel made me start caring about how I plate my food even when I’m the only one eating it. Just scrolling through the thumbnails on this channel makes me hungry. You look at this stuff and you can tell it was actually SEASONED!
Vegan food reviews and tips sprinkled among enough bubbly, supportive warmth and daily mood-boosting messages to restore your faith in humanity. If you missed the TikTok wave that lifted Tabitha to social media stardom (and soon got her signed with CAA), her YouTube channel is a great place to catch up on those videos yourself or just relive the magic of her sparkling personality.
Recipes for hearty, good-for-you vegan meals with (yep, it’s there in the name) frequent incorporation of sweet potatoes. This is a go-to channel for vegan-ized versions of family comfort meals, with a big emphasis on quick recipes and vegan cooking hacks designed to fit into a busy lifestyle.
Cultural History & Social Critique Channels To Make You An Expert on Current Events
Black Feminist critique of news, books, shows and movies that covers everything from the latest news headlines to Neflix movies to reality TV. Surprising, empathetic, detailed takes grounded in history from a woman who **I GUARANTEE YOU** has DONE. HER. RESEARCH. SHE HAS GOT THE BOOK LEARNING, HAROLD. You gonna put respect on my auntie’s name, she an Oklahoma girl she not just one of your lil —
Hard-hitting video essays from a cultural historian examining a wide range of social trends and issues. She pulls NO punches, but her takes are thoughtful and nuanced. My favorite videos of hers include:
“The Anatomy of Stan Culture”
“What Was Life Like For Black Americans In The 70s?”
“Boosie, Black Boys, and Rape Culture”
The array of beautiful wigs and makeup looks that she casually brings to the table are just the icing on the cake.
