As we continue to dedicate ourselves to amplifying the voices and stories of LGBTQ people from all backgrounds, we should be intentional about creating space for, and listening to, the most marginalized within our community. For decades, if not longer, queer people of color have been leading the charge to spur cultural change and progress, correcting false narratives about the LGBTQ community and ensuring diverse voices are heard. The Communities of Color and Media team at GLAAD strives to follow in the footsteps of our Black queer predecessors, particularly when it comes to uplifting the perspectives of creatives of color who are making significant contributions to fields within the media and entertainment realms.
A new series of articles, “Voices of the Industry,” aims to shine a spotlight on these industry trailblazers and changemakers, exploring their journeys, challenges, and triumphs. Through sharing their stories, we hope to inspire and empower others within our community, highlighting the importance of representation and diversity in all facets of the media landscape.
For this edition, we had the pleasure of interviewing Eshe Ukweli, a dynamic force in digital marketing and content creation, and a friend of GLAAD. In addition to joining GLAAD as part of the inaugural cohort of the Black Queer Creative Summit (BQCS), Eshe formerly served as a Communities of Color and Media Intern. Most recently, she served as a Grand Marshal for the NYC Pride Parade alongside movement leaders such as Miss Major, Raquel Willis, and GLAAD’s own Communities of Color and Media Senior Director, DaShawn Usher. Eshe’s journey from a STEM-focused upbringing to a thriving career in media is a testament to the power of following one’s passion. Here, she shares her story, inspirations, and hopes for the future of Black queer representation.
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GLAAD: Thank you so much for talking with us at GLAAD today, we’re obviously such big fans. Can you tell us a little bit about how your career got started? What makes you passionate about creating content and working in media, specifically with creative mediums?
Eshe Ukweli: I am so excited to be speaking with you – thanks so much for the opportunity. So I’m from Boston, Massachusetts, which is a huge STEM and medical town, so originally, I saw myself going into engineering. I had been an MIT MITES scholar throughout middle and high school, interning at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Biomedical Engineering later in high school, and so I thought that was going to be my path. But as I was looking at the things that were important to me, I realized my love for connecting with people, writing, and storytelling across mediums was really what I wanted to do. And I already had been doing it in my free time. So, in a last-minute decision, I switched my incoming major from engineering to strategic communications and then later to journalism, and I’ve worked in this space ever since. These days I’m not doing as much writing full-time as I’m exploring my passions for digital marketing professionally and content creation personally. I think what keeps me in this space of creating content and connecting to people and audiences, whether that be for a company or personally, is my desire to really leave a positive impact on this world. There are so many people and communities that are so underserved and overlooked, and it is my hope that through my career I can not only help companies to see the value in these communities but also, through sharing my life on the internet and creating these online spaces, people inside of my communities can see what it looks like to be successful and thrive at the unique intersections of our identities.
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How do your identities, particularly being Black and LGBTQ+, influence your work and the way you navigate media and the entertainment industry as a whole? How do you feel that your work amplifies Black queer voices, visibility, and representation within the entertainment industry?
Eshe Ukweli: I think so many of the images we see of Black and LGBTQ+ people are so boxed in and limited. And the ones that do get elevated don’t always show the totality, range, and diversity that exist within the community. So, my identities influence my content and the work I do because I’m always trying to show people inside and outside of the community what life can look like as a Black, transgender, Gen Z, woman. I feel like my work, especially in my writing, gives people a diverse range of folks to see and look into, read about, and learn about their lives and the cool things they do from modeling to content creating to political advocacy and so much more. Particularly, my content gives people the visual experience to see and follow along my own journey as a young person who’s still charting their path and striving to make a difference.
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We’d love to know, who are the artists, creatives, or industry professionals that inspire you the most, and what is it about their work that resonates deeply with you? Is there anything you’re watching, reading, or listening to right now that informs your work and that you’d recommend?
Eshe Ukweli: The whole reason why I got into journalism was being inspired by Janet Mock. I have always been an avid reader and grew up reading so many different books and autobiographies, but it wasn’t until I read Janet Mock’s Redefining Realness and Surpassing Certainty that I felt like I saw myself on the page. So she was a huge inspiration early on in my career, and later I got more images of possibility of who I could become, like Lindsey Peoples Wagner, Elaine Welteroth, and Blake Newby—these amazing Black women who had these full careers in media that weren’t traditional and didn’t just do one thing but represented all of their intertwining passions in media, marketing, content creation, fashion, and more. Also, my friends are a huge inspiration to everything I do. Friends like Corinne Dorsey, Nylah Lee, Cory Utsey, Asia Alexander, and so many more inspire me to be all that I can be and follow all of my dreams.
And, sorta giving out a gem here, but I live on YouTube and watch every interview my favorite people have ever done. I used to do it when I was younger, trying to figure out how I could get to where I am now, and those interviews still ring true today. I watch them all the time because you can skip over so many potholes by listening to someone else’s journey of building their platform and career, but you also can sorta reverse engineer your career as well. So, the current interviews I’ve been watching have been a lot of Tabitha Brown. I love her story and platform; she offers so much when she speaks and shares her story.
@eshe.ukweli
What advice would you offer to emerging Black LGBTQ+ creatives who are striving to break out and make their mark in the industry? What key lessons have you learned that you’d like to pass on?
Eshe Ukweli: Oh my goodness, I would offer so many, but I’ll streamline it into a few. Know who you are and know where you come from. I have been blessed with a really strong internal compass, but there is no shame for those still building that to really take time to maybe sit quietly and understand who they are, what they want, and where they see themselves going. It is often my internal compass and sense of self that have helped me navigate and trust when going after new endeavors and trying to break into something new. I would say, know when to say NO. I think as new creatives and emerging talent, we think we have to say yes to every opportunity that comes our way, whether out of excitement or often times a scarcity mindset—if I say no now, this opportunity, this chance, might not ever come back around. But I’m here to remind you that you are the talent. That thing that draws people to you and keeps that spark going isn’t in an opportunity but rather is in you. So it’s okay, as you’re starting out and even when you break in, to think strategically about what you really want and say yes to things that are an absolute yes and no to those things that are a maybe or uncertain or just don’t feel right. And last, I would say, build up others as you climb. So many of the opportunities that I have had have been because some random person I smiled at and said hello to remembered me and thought to think of me later on. A friend heard someone was looking to do something for this and thought it’d be great for me, and they sent it to me. It’s so important to not only connect with people who are where you want to be but also connect with the people who are where you are at right now. Networking across has been those connections that have poured so much into me when I was feeling lost or uncertain or like giving up. So take all the time you need to build your internal compass, think strategically and with your heart, and don’t be afraid to say no, and build and connect to your peers around as you climb.
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What do you hope for or want to see for the future of Black queer representation in media?
Eshe Ukweli: I hope to see more diversity in our careers, what we do, and the lives that we live. I hope to see the everyday girl, the career 9-5 corporate girl, the young activist, and the music artist and painter and more equally represented in media. I hope to see more abundant stories on screen and elevated out in the world because we have so much wealth and diversity in our communities.
We’re so excited to hear about what you’re currently working on and projects that are on the horizon. What’s next and upcoming for you, and how can readers and fans keep up with you and your work?
Eshe Ukweli: I’m super excited for the launch of my upcoming podcast All Things Growing. I really think it’s important for other young people to learn from other young people, so I wanted to create a space where Gen Z can share our experiences and share the lessons we’re learning as we grow into our careers and pathways, especially in the crazy time that is our 20s. My podcast will be coming soon. It’ll also be a place for me to interview and talk with your favorite content creators, authors, and young people who are doing amazing things. So keep a look out for that, and to do that, you can follow my accounts on Instagram and TikTok at Eshe Ukweli. I’m uploading all the time and sharing the things I’m up to on there. Thanks so much for this space. This has been great!
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Be sure to follow Eshe on Instagram and Tik Tok, along with checking out her website, to keep track of the bright future we know she has ahead of her.
Stay tuned for more inspiring stories and insights from trailblazing LGBTQ creatives of color as the “Voices of the Industry” series grows. Join us as we continue to uplift and celebrate the diversity that enriches our media and entertainment landscape.