Tee Noir Is Educating YouTube On Black WomanhoodSkip To ContentHomepageSign InSearch BuzzFeedSearch BuzzFeedlol Badge Feedwin Badge Feedtrending Badge FeedCalifornia residents can opt out of "sales" of personal data.Do Not Sell My Personal Information 2022 BuzzFeed, Inc PressRSSPrivacyConsent PreferencesUser TermsAd ChoicesHelpContactSitemap Posted on 24 Apr 2022 YouTuber Tee Noir Is Educating The Internet On Black Womanhood"I think the best gift I can give to those who come after me is to have a table already be set for them." by Victoria HonoréBuzzFeed StaffFacebookPinterestTwitterMailLink Welcome to Seasoned Chats an interview series where we get to know some incredible Black creators Victoria Honore / BuzzFeed br This week we re meeting Tee Noir a YouTuber who makes videos on culture social commentary and Black womanhood At 547 000 subscribers and counting viewers love Tee for her empathy and deep consideration of the topics she covers — the focus of which is usually to add to conversations about the lived experiences of Black women Tee Noir We had the chance to sit down with Tee and chat about some of the joys and challenges of being a social commentator online So first off, you started your channel before the YouTube algorithm really started promoting commentary and video essay style videos. What was your driving force in becoming a commentator on the topics you cover? Tee: I love to talk about the world around me and how it affects me — and it just so happens that how the world affects me affects other people in similar ways. It was really at the height of the pandemic that, like you said, the algorithm started pushing things like [my content]. Racial tensions were really high at that time as well, so thankfully, people really started caring about having more of those types of conversations — so just me observing the world around me, critiquing and then putting it out there is pretty much what gave me my start. Obviously when you're putting your opinions and views out there, people will respond. As a lead conversation starter, how does it feel for you to sometimes have your words twisted by people that missed the point in the different videos you've made? Tee: Ultimately, "the girls that get it, get it". Honestly, I've only seen one reaction video to my content and that was enough for me. It does a creator well to consider what the opposition will say so that you can articulate your thought process a bit better; however, br I find that people may twist what they consume in a way that best works for them, and I can't take that personally. Everyone's influenced by different things and that shapes how they perceive content. So, I can't be upset by someone disagreeing with me or not liking the way that something came across. Tap to play GIF Tap to play GIF Tee Noir / Via youtube.com In your videos you present topics in a way that's easily digested and not persuasive at all. What made you decide to take on the role of educator in your content? Tee: It's that I'm not only trying to articulate my thoughts [in my content] but I'm also trying to understand my thoughts, if that makes sense. Most of the time, my topics start with a feeling that I have and in the process of explaining that feeling to myself, I find myself forming a web of questions like, "how does this affect me or others? How can I challenge this?" It's how I write essays, so the format kind of follows since I make video essays. It really just so happens that I explain things in a way that's more easily digestible. What does your process look like then, from your initial feeling to creating a video? Tee: So, there's this feeling in my stomach or this feeling when I walk into a room and I see the reactions of others for whatever reason, and then from there I question, "Why does this thing make me feel this way? Why are people reacting in the way that they are?". Then from there, I'm like a four year old just asking why, why, why. br And then, thankfully, there's all this research and other commentaries or a number of podcast documentaries that can assist me in understanding a topic for myself. After that, I just kind of regurgitate that understanding into a video. Do you have a background in research? Tee: No, but I think we're all lifetime learners as human beings. Actually I use a great site called Connected Papers from time to time, they're not at the core of all my research, but you know how you read one paper and that leads you to other papers and you just end up following a trail of information? School is school, but once you find what it is you want to learn more and more about every single day, you should take that upon yourself. "Whether your route is going to college or being a self-educator it should be respected. You can become an expert either way, it just depends on what you're passionate about." Tee Noir So you've said before that you started your channel after feeling like you didn't have a seat at the table with creators making commentary-style videos — so you made your own table. What would you say to a creator interested in doing video essays who feels like they also need to create their own path? Tee: This might be a little bit of a controversial take, but I don't want the future of commentary creators to have to create their own table. I want there to already be a table and full feast with someone to push in their chair for them. A lot of people like to glorify being "the first" and "the trailblazer" a lot, and while we can honour those who were, we should acknowledge that it's difficult and it's draining. I think the best gift I can give to those who come after me is to have a table already be set for them. You've really helped create a space on YouTube for stories about Black Womanhood and commentary on the Black experience. Do you, as a Black creator speaking about more sensitive subjects, feel respected and fairly engaged with online?Tee: In this space, I do feel really respected and uplifted. The Black commentary YouTube space is one of the healthiest, if not the healthiest, niche on YouTube that I've ever seen; and that is because we respect each other and support each other so much farther beyond popularity or aesthetics. br But I also recognize that the commentary space isn't just limited to Black creators— and I have been reached out to by a couple of creators in the "White-left" commentary side who have told me that they really appreciated my content. However, they are sure to put the emphasis on me being a Black creator, so am I regarded on the same level as them? Generally, I couldn't say. I don't feel disrespected but we're working towards everyone being on the same playing field. "The divide there is between "Black Left" and "White Left" YouTube doesn't necessarily exist because we 'dislike' each other, but just because the algorithm pushes us in different directions" Your perspectives on different topics are generally so unique and filtered through such an empathetic lens. Is that just your natural point-of-view? Tee: Empathy is so big for me in my life. A huge inspiration of mine in the commentary community is Kim Foster and she said once: "Empathy is my superpower, but it's also my kryptonite." Even if I just plant that seed of empathy for others [in my content], then my job is done. Do you think your cultural upbringing, growing up Jamaican but in America, has uniquely shaped your mindset in a way? Tee: I think it definitely played a role in that — being so connected with my culture, going back to Jamaica and seeing where my parents and family came from and where some still are really helps me contextualise that every person's choices and actions really are a result of their environment. We all have a different set of choices, and I just try to keep that in mind because you can find yourself having empathy in just about anything. That doesn't mean making excuses for others but I can say to myself, "If I was in this [person's] position, would I have different judgement?". I think of this quote from Kerry Washington's character in Little Fires Everywhere — "You didn't make good choices. You had good choices," and that couldn't be truer for humanity, to me. Tap to play GIF Tap to play GIF Tee Noir / Via youtube.com Considering then that you are so empathetic in your point-of-views and overall a deep thinker, how do you welcome change in opinion? Tee: Freely and openly; bring on change. Even if I have to change my opinions four or five times, I never set anything in stone. My stances on things evolve, and I give myself that freedom. If you can't conceptualise a world or thoughts that are different than what is there right now, then are you really that liberal or radical? I approach things with confidence, but not pride. So, are there any other types of content that you've considered making or pursuing one day? Tee: Right now, I'm really happy where I am. Of course that could change but in this moment, no. There was once upon a time that I wanted to be a beauty influencer — I thought maybe I could do it like Jackie Aina, but that was not sustainable for me at all, haha. Do you have a favourite out of all the videos you've worked on? Tee: I would say "Society Vs. The Average Black Woman", because I loved the camaraderie that happened after that. You really can't beat that. If not that, then the video I did on "fatphobia", because I got to check myself at every single turn during the interviews I had with participants and when I was researching and writing it all up. "I love when I can look at myself in the mirror and say, 'You've been fucking up, let's remedy this.'" View this video on YouTube youtube.com How do you find the best way to participate in self-care and managing your mental health with the work you do and content you create?Tee: In the traditional self-care sense, I do nothing — maybe I'll spend a little extra time on my skincare but I'm not hopping in the bubble bath or anything like that. For me, just doing absolutely nothing that I feel obligated to do is the best way for me to recharge. br As a creator, there's so much that goes on behind-the-scenes and it's very easy to feel guilty when you're not even just giving a little piece of your brain to your work. So real self-care for me is to not think about any of it at all, and that's harder than it seems. And lastly, thinking of everything we've talked about, how would you describe yourself as a creator? Tee: I am a creator who wants to share. I don't want to necessarily be a creator who takes ownership of any ideas or feelings that people will take on when they consume my content. I'm like a sharer and receiver of information and feelings, not a boss or a leader in that regard. I'm just a member of the community. Tap to play GIF Tap to play GIF Tee Noir / Via youtube.com Note: Answers have been edited for length and/or clarity. br Gain a new perspective by watching Tee Noir on YouTube and keep up with her on Twitter and Instagram Share This ArticleFacebook PinterestTwitterMailLink BuzzFeed DailyKeep up with the latest daily buzz with the BuzzFeed Daily newsletter!This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.