DeShuna Spencer wanted to create a safe space for Black people to watch movies starring characters who looked like them, so she created a streaming service that offered just that.
My Hip Hop Perspective – Deshuna Spencer
Think Netflix meets Black cinema. That’s what drove Spencer to launch kweliTV, a streaming service that offers specifically Black independent films, documentaries, news, and other content that can’t be found anywhere else. For a small monthly fee, viewers can enjoy Black entertainment across a variety of genres, from short films to dramas, sci-fi, and more.
When someone first suggested she start a streaming service geared toward Black people, when she couldn’t find the type of content she was looking for, Spencer says she thought they were crazy. Nearly a decade later, she has more than 39,000 users on the kweliTV platform, which is accessible across multiple streaming devices and apps, including Roku, Apple TV and Google Play.
“It's always been about changing the narrative and using it for healing, education and impact,” Spencer told Lifewire in a phone interview.
