On June 6, Black creatives gathered at Impact Hub Baltimore for an honest conversation about building careers in spaces where identity is often politicized.
“Black Creatives: Navigating Spaces That Weren’t Built for Us” explored how pressure to outperform can be shaped by respectability politics and family expectations, as well as the emotional toll of moving through creative industries that demand excellence while leaving little room for error.
Food from Ekiben Baltimore was available as guests arrived and settled into the space. The early conversations helped shape the atmosphere before the panel began.
A discussion shaped by the room
AIGA Baltimore President Olivia Moore graciously moderated the conversation. The panel featured Drew Bonsu, of Equally Marked and communications director for AIGA Baltimore; JaVon Townsend of VIVID Consulting; Dr. Perry Sweeper of Duke Divinity School; Monique Jenkins, founder of Creative & Creator; and Genesis Smith, a designer at Hord Coplan Macht.
Each panelist brought a perspective shaped by their work and the communities they move within.
The format felt closer to a roundtable than a traditional panel. After each question, Moore invited audience members to respond, share an experience, or ask their own question.
That choice gave the room a different rhythm. Audience members became part of the conversation throughout the afternoon. People spoke when something resonated and offered reflections that deepened the discussion.
Several audience members shared how exhausting it can feel to be overworked and undermined while still questioning whether their efforts are enough.
These moments stayed with the room because the experience felt familiar to many people there. It also showed what can happen when a gathering gives people enough space to speak honestly. It’s the sense of trust that had developed throughout the afternoon that the AIGA BMORE board wanted to create.
Connections that continued afterward
Even when the program ended, people stayed.
Attendees approached panelists for advice and continued conversations that had started during the discussion. People exchanged information and formed new connections around the room.
The panel gave people language for experiences they may have carried quietly. It also gave them a chance to meet others who understood those experiences.
The June 6 conversation made room for the realities that shape creative work, including the pressure to prove yourself repeatedly and the energy required to manage how others may interpret your identity.
We’re grateful to Olivia Moore for guiding the conversation with care. We also thank Drew Bonsu, JaVon Townsend, Dr. Perry Sweeper, Monique Jenkins, and Genesis Smith for sharing their experiences.
Most of all, we’re grateful to everyone who trusted the room with their stories.
The event ended on schedule. But the conversation kept going (and will continue to).
