The digital age is redefining how stories are told but for Black professionals.
This shift presents both opportunity and risk. Artificial intelligence (AI) and media algorithms influence which voices are amplified and silenced. Without intentional action, Black narratives could be misrepresented—or erased entirely.
Actor and activist Kendrick Sampson is among those leading the charge to ensure that Black storytellers maintain control over their history, culture and future.
At a recent town hall forum on Black storytelling and innovation at the Ion District, Sampson, Nana Gyamfi, Executive Director of the Black Alliance for Just Immigration (BAJI) and other industry leaders addressed the urgent need for Black people to engage with technology as decision-makers, not just consumers. The power of Black storytelling lies not just in representation but also in ownership and strategic influence.
“How do we build power? How do we use technology to build power? How do we use it to enhance our relationships instead of replacing their relationships,” Sampson said. “How do we come to use it to connect us further than divide us further? Because right now, it’s the complete opposite.”
AI is causing concern among Black artists, who are discovering evidence of racial bias in the algorithms and large data sets used to generate images. AI technologies may ignore or distort artists’ text prompts, impacting how Black people are depicted in images and sometimes stereotyping or censoring Black history and culture.
According to McKinsey’s report, generative AI could potentially widen the US racial economic gap by $43 billion annually. Still, it could also remove barriers to Black economic mobility if used thoughtfully.
AI impacts various industries, including TV, film, media, literature, music, beauty, health and wellness. Sampson shared his experience in Hollywood during the SAG-AFTRA strikes over labor disputes against the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) and the Disagreement over streaming residuals and regulation of self-tape auditions.
Studio usage of AI to scan actors’ faces to generate performances digitally.
Owing our narrative in the digital world
Gyamfi has been fighting for the rights of Black immigrants for decades, both nationally and internationally. When it comes to storytelling and technology, she says AI has been used in a way that portrays Black people negatively.
“AI is often tested on Black people—whether it’s those in Kenya, Nigeria or Ghana—who are being used to clean up the most horrific images so that AI appears more palatable for others,” she says. “Meanwhile, AI is also being used to categorize us, keep us out of space and limit our opportunities. If we don’t take control, we will be the subjects of digital oppression rather than the architects of digital liberation.”
Educator and social media influencer Conscious Lee says accessibility to technology is a solution. When he was in college, the internet became his way of finding information inaccessible to him. He watched various content creators who made “high-level knowledge” digestible for everyone.
“The people we’re competing with in the job market and in business are already using AI and other tech advancements,” he says. “Instead of making it more accessible for our people, we sometimes hoard that knowledge. That’s gatekeeping. We must ensure we’re sharing resources and not leaving our community behind.”
He also pointed to the growing issue of AI-powered misinformation.
“Deepfakes and manipulated content are already affecting how people perceive reality,” Lee says. “If we don’t make sure our community is educated about these tools, we’ll be the ones most vulnerable to digital deception—especially in elections, media and business.”
Brittany King, founder and CEO of Amplify Allyship, expanded on the importance of Black people committing to trust-building and eliminating the crabs-in-the-barrel mentality.
“We often talk about allyship in relation to other communities, but how do we, as Black people show up for each other?” she asks. “That means no gatekeeping. That means we’re holding each other accountable, and that means that we are collectively pulling our resources for the benefit of us all.”
King left corporate America 18 months ago after facing the toll of being Black in a predominantly white workplace. She believes allyship starts within. She launched her company, Amplify Allyship because she believed allyship is the answer to the world’s societal ills.
She shared a personal story about a Black woman in leadership who supported her exit from corporate America but could have done more.
“I want a job that’s not here. I can’t go to places and tell people this is a safe place for black people. “We need to have more conversations about first-generation corporate leadership and our responsibility to lift each other up.”
