YouTube Pledges $100M To Fund For Black Creators, Artists

SAN BRUNO, CA – YouTube announced a multi-year $100 million fund it said will be dedicated to amplifying and developing the voice of black artists.

The fund is part of an array of initiatives the Peninsula-based video platform said will support the black community by elevating content that supports social justice and ramping up efforts to monitor hate speech.

YouTube will host “Bear Witness, Take Action,” a livestreamed fundraising event that will bring together creators, artists, influential public figures and prominent activist voices for roundtable discussions and musical performances, with donations benefiting the Equal Justice Initiative.

The company’s Spotlight channel will highlight racial justice issues, including the latest perspectives from the Black community on YouTube alongside historical content, educational videos, and protest coverage through June.

YouTube said it has developed more stringent hate speech and harassment policies, specifically banning videos promoting racial, gender or religious superiority or other discrimination, segregation or exclusion. The company said it removed over 100,000 videos and 100 million comments for hate and harassment last month.

“At YouTube, we believe Black lives matter and we all need to do more to dismantle systemic racism,” YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki said in a statement.

“We join in protest against the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and so many others before them. The painful events of this year have reminded us of the importance of human connection and the need to continue to strengthen human rights around the world.”