Keith Dorsey, 33, a marketer, business developer and talent manager, is reshaping the world of influencing and entertainment in his hometown, Atlanta, with a mindset of enabling the success of other Blacks in the social-media influencer marketplace.
“If you see someone who looks like you, not even a race thing, if you’re a woman and you do something incredible, other women will look at that and say, ‘I can do that,’” Dorsey said.
Dorsey is the architect of one of the first major all-Black content houses in Atlanta and manages another, where influencers live and work together to raise their profiles and earn a living via social media.
By building content houses that help young influencers of color gain fame and fortune on social media, Dorsey’s vision has shown other up-and-coming Black influencers that they can become social media stars.
“I’ve spoken with so many creators. Just like people go to L.A. to live out their dreams, there are creators that I’ve been on the phone with who say, ‘When I get out of school, I’m coming to move to Atlanta and I’m going to be a successful creator,'” Dorsey said. “It’s already starting. My talent are leading that right now.”
While some may dismiss TikTok stars as a flash in the pan, creators on the app boast millions of followers, with teens and tweens hanging on every word and action of their favorite internet celebrities. Those influencers are, well, influencing — influencing what kind of music is popular, what kind of social issues the younger generation rallies behind, what sort of face wash or nail polish or hair dye teens and young adults should get.
With this kind of influence, TikTok stars are arguably shaping the culture of a generation and beyond, and Dorsey is at the forefront of that.
In December, Dorsey’s content house Collab Crib signed a lease on an 8,500-square-foot mansion just outside of downtown Atlanta.
Dorsey said he reminds the group of the importance of what they’re doing. It’s not just about the name recognition or the financial opportunities — it’s about laying the foundation for a future where other young Black Americans can see themselves represented in the influencing world and know that there’s a place for them to succeed, too.
On top of continuing to grow the content houses, Dorsey said he’s hoping to build an academy to teach others hoping to develop in the influencer world how they, too, can be successful. He said he’s hoping for a future where Black creators have the same opportunities and triumphs that white content creators are currently afforded.
