Zora’s Black History Month Campaign Spotlights Black Web3 Artists

This issue of NFTs Driving Change puts the spotlight on Zora’s Black History Month campaign featuring nine Black Web3 artists.

I believe Sunday mornings are for lazy breakfasts and great reads in bed. But if early signs of Spring have started showing in your part of the world, please take your read outside, and touch some grass! While I cannot promise you a great read, I guarantee some food for thought, something inspiring, or maybe even a pinch of hope. It’s a bright sunny day over here in Norwich, and my heart is full in a way that only bright sunny mornings can do (live in England for five months and you’ll start appreciating the sun more). 

Welcome to NFTs Driving Change—a bi-monthly column where I highlight projects and creators using NFTs and other Web3 tools to create real-world impact. In this issue, I’ll be introducing you to NFT marketplace Zora’s Black History Month campaign celebrating Black Web3 artists. 

Web3 is promising. But where’s the representation?

In the past two-something years, Web3 has come a long way. The sector is evolving with wonderful new projects, better visions, new players, and what not. Yet, representation continues to lack. Sure, today there are more individuals from underrepresented communities in Web3 than there were two years ago—but it’s nearly not enough. 

In fact, a recent report by BCG X, Boston Consulting Group’s tech build and design unit, and People of Crypto Lab highlighted Web3’s gender diversity problem. According to the report, only 13% of Web3 startups include a female founder. Similarly, a 2022 report found that 62% of crypto owners are White men. Another said that Black women make up only 4% of crypto investors globally. 

Nonetheless, the good news is that people are taking notice. More and more projects are actively encouraging diversity and inclusion in the space. The latest addition to this is the Black History Month campaign by the NFT marketplace, Zora.

About the Black History Month campaign by Zora

On Friday, February 17, Zora launched its Black History Month campaign to uplift nine Black Web3 artists. Titled “The Let Out”, the campaign is a celebration of artists and creators shaping the Black Web3 history and future. Created in collaboration with queer muti-disciplinary artist, Brittany Pierre, the campaign will feature nine timed open editions.

Under Pierre’s curation, the Black History Month campaign will run until mid-March, with one NFT dropping each week. More importantly, Zora will give 1 ETH to each artist through its curation program. Apart from Pierre, the participating artists include Ilitch Peters Aaron Ricketts, Jamee Cornelia, Jah, Latasha, and Tuan.

One of the artworks currently live is Jamee Cornelia’s BLQR. A motion mixed media collage, the piece is a “love letter” to the “Black Queer and Trans Community in Atlanta”. Moreover, Cornelia will donate 50% of the proceeds to Southern Fried Queer Pride and the House of Alxndr.

To be sure, this campaign is much like the Queer Museum of Digital Art (QMoDA)’s artist grant program that launched last month on Zora. It supported 10 queer artists with 1 ETH each.

How it all started

Interestingly, the Black History Month campaign started with a tweet from Pierre:

“You know what would be really cool? If a huge project or platform had a really cool drop of African American artists that they commissioned in this space to do a few pieces and airdropped them to their holders for BHM. Commissioned as in paid 10-20 creatives 2-5 eth each.”

Nearly a month later, that vision has now become a reality. In fact, the above tweet in itself is available as an NFT to mint.

Commenting on the campaign, Dee Goens, founder and COO at Zora, added, “…at Zora we’ve always been focused on building the tools needed to bring diversity and creativity onchain.” 

Hopefully, other Web3 projects and platforms will follow suit with such essential initiatives. That said, campaigns like this will be more impactful if it involves more women and LGBTQIA+ artists. 

If you loved this, make sure to check out our previous issues on Pussy Riot’s Nadya Tolokonnikova and Rejell’s NFT drop.