Meena Anderson

We've seen this before, and we're tired of it. British-Ghanaian actor Paapa Essiedu has faced intense online backlash — including death threats — since being cast as Professor Snape in HBO's new Harry Potter adaptation. The reaction is predictably troubling. It’s the same ugly cycle we've watched play out too many times: Black actors are targeted simply for stepping into roles that certain audiences have decided should only be white.

Last Friday, the killing of 21-year-old Black trans influencer Girlalala in Florida became another devastating reminder of how vulnerable trans women remain in moments when systems should protect them. According to NBC News, officers found her with multiple gunshot wounds in a car outside a suburban Fort Lauderdale home after an argument with her 25-year-old boyfriend, Shanoyd Whyte Jr., turned violent.

Breaking into America’s influencer economy is no small feat for Black creators. The system was never designed with us in mind, and the industry’s bias often limits brand deals and opportunities, especially for those without large followings. But these barriers haven't stopped Black innovators from flipping the script and turning cultural influence into economic power.