Coming to an event like CultureCon for the first time, so many things catch your attention: the crowds, dressed in the most intricate outfits you’ve ever seen, and the numerous Black creators gathered, all meeting in one central place, the Duggal Greenhouse in Brooklyn, New York, to find community and opportunity. A lot of this can feel overwhelming, especially if your interests span so many different areas. But for me, it was all about hearing the people who have already found their footing in the creative spotlight.
The place to soak up this knowledge was the “Creative Genius” discussions. Featuring Michael B. Jordan, John Legend, Daniel Kaluuya, Mahershala Ali and many others, these discussions offered a glimpse behind what most people see as their public personas, offering insight about creative ambition, identity and believing in yourself.
Oscar winner Michael B. Jordan, who is coming out with his second directorial effort, a reimagined The Thomas Crown Affair, gave these encouraging words to the hyped crowd: “I want you guys to have a belief in what you’re doing, no matter if anybody else can’t see it, as long as you can see it, people will follow.”
There was Ali’s determination to bring Your Mother, Your Mother, Your Mother to life, a project that nearly took him out due to the sheer intensity that he put into it, but as he shared, it was a welcome sacrifice to make a film that spotlighted his Muslim religion.
Olandria Carthen, who hasn’t just unlocked the reality infamy door, but busted it down to become a bona fide media and business baller, shared how she stays grounded as her public profile grows: “I try to make sure how I’m perceived publicly is not how I perceive myself.”
Lanterns star Aaron Pierre revealed the essentials that have helped him on his journey. “It’s just about walking in faith. My mother taught me that in the very beginning.” He shared that creatives should “have that conversation with themselves to ask what does it look like in my life if I really give it everything?”
There were, of course, other great panels and activations to attend throughout the festivities. Scott Evans and Niecy Nash set the tone in the opening panel, with Niecy pouring industry wisdom into the room. Other panels included Colin Kaepernick’s Audible panel, where he talked about his memoir, The Perilous Fight, and the Prime Video panel with The Greatest star Omari Hardwick and Barbershop’s Brett Gray and Jermaine Fowler, which revealed its first teaser trailer. John Legend, who attended the very first CultureCon, celebrated its growth and revealed that he and Pharrell have finished the album they worked on together in Paris.
Content creator and actor Joshua Neal, who stars in One of Them Days, shared his enthusiasm for being in the room: “To be here, to be recharged, to give thanks and be told thanks for the things you do, and share what works, it’s a good opportunity to give back.”
With a theme connected to museums, CultureCon founder Imani Ellis and the CultureCon Collective even had words of wisdom. “Even before this theme, I would go to museums and feel inspired, and even though museums and festivals don’t normally go together, in my mind, that made perfect sense,” Ellis said.
This is what I imagine brings most people to CultureCon in the first place: the chance to connect with people who can help unlock your next level. And with its theme, it truly felt like a living exhibition, where each panel, activation and conversation sparked our creative potential.