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DEFENDER | AUGUST 18| 2016
entertainment
defendernetwork.com
Blacks enjoying YouTube success By JERICA DECK The AFRO
Y
ouTube, the billion-dollar social network, is allowing Blacks to find virtual success and even careers creating and sharing their unique talents and video content. Case in point: six college students cracking jokes and making beats turned into an Internet phenomenon with over 900,000 subscribers and videos with over 3 million views. The group of Atlanta comedians, known as Dormtainment, consists of Amanuel Richards, Jerome “Rome” Green, Members of Dormtainment make viewers laugh and shed light on social issues. Mike Anthony, Daunte “Tay” Dier, Chaz Miller and his brother Cameron Miller. to create their own content such as Logo and LIFT to promote them to the AfricanAfter viral videos like “Ass on the American and LGBT community. and claim to fame. Internet” and one of the first Black Harlem Whitney White’s successful natural hair channel Along with shake videos, they soon expanded their talent Whitney White promotes natural hair care. “Naptural85” found an audience amid the many make-up and making people laugh, past laptop screens. Dormtainment has also used hair tutorials out there. Both Dier and Green went to school for “You can do everything with your hair. Natural hair their sketches to shed light music, and the group created comedic mixtapes, albums and is amazing. It’s so versatile. You can have an Afro one day, on social issues such as police brutality and racism. music videos. Their albums “Broke and Famous” and “Broke straight the next. You can braid it up and even put on a wig. “It’s hard sometimes because we don’t know how to and Famous 2” went to No. 1 on iTunes. There’s so much you can do with natural hair it’s crazy,” joke about certain situations, especially like nowadays with Dormtainment also performs live comedy shows at said White, who has appeared in commercials, performed at everything going on,” Anthony said. “But we know with our colleges across the country and after moving to Los Angeles, comedy we help heal how people are feeling at the moment and Essence Fest and more because of her YouTube success. they’ve worked on a web series with Comedy Central called Although sexologist Shannon Boodram said she’s if we can hit on a little bit on what’s going on it can help them “Six Guys One Car.” sometimes lost jobs for talking about a topic some consider think about it and also maybe start a resolution.” YouTube has allowed users around the world to create and taboo, she has used her passion to rise to the top. She’s currently Internet sensation King Russell, commonly known by his share video content. Producers and performers have received YouTube username Kingsley, also finds his way to both discuss working with MTV and Trojan Condoms to create videos that numerous opportunities from YouTube including recording advocate safe sex. She’s also worked with AIDS health care, social issues and make people laugh. “We’re all vocal, spread contracts, acting careers, endorsement deals, and even earning BET, written a book, and is invited to this year’s VMA’s. petitions, and do anything we can to help. I think through us money from advertising. “We’re all here because of sex,” Boodram said. “I think doing it, it allows everyone else to help as well,” Russell said. Although many high profile YouTubers are white, unlike sex drives a lot of our behavior and our choices. It’s a major Kingsley is one of the most well-known YouTubers with mainstream media, YouTube has given Black users a platform part of lives.” over 3 million subscribers. He’s also worked with companies
what’sup Despite winning a gold medal, GABBY DOUGLAS had to deal with critics over her hair and behavior at the Rio Olympics. Douglas fought back tears when reporters’ questions about her performance turned to questions about a wide range of criticism that has been directed at her – much of it on social media – about her edges, her stance during the playing of the national anthem and her expression in the stands as her teammates performed. Douglas said she had avoided the Internet while in Rio because of the “negativity,” which she said she didn’t understand. One other person speaking out about all of the condemnation is the Olympian’s mother, Natalie Hawkins.
She said her daughter has been “bullied” and attacked……..Comedy Central has decided to pull the plug on “The Nightly Show with LARRY WILMORE.” According to Variety, Thursday, Aug. 18, will be the comedian’s last show and the network will instead air Chris Hardwick’s pop culture quiz show “@Midnight” in the 11:30 p.m. time slot. Network president Kent Alterman said the cancellation was a “business decision” explaining that the show hadn’t “resonated” with their audience. Wilmore said he was “grateful” to the network, Jon Stewart and the fans for the opportunity….….KEVIN HART and Eniko Parrish are officially married. Hart, 37, and Parrish,
31, became engaged about two years ago and tied the knot in California surrounded by friends and family. They shared a few photos from their special day on Instagram……..The hit summer drama series “Greenleaf” starring MERLE DANDRIDGE, LYNN WHITFIELD, KEITH DAVID and OPRAH WINFREY delivered OWN’s most watched Wednesday telecast in network history recently with 2.3 million total viewers and a 1.79 women 25-54 rating. It was also Wednesday night’s No. 1 cable telecast for women. “Greenleaf” is the summer’s No. 1 new series on all of TV across all key African-American demographics.
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