A TikTok creator is using makeup tutorials to teach people about Black History.
Ariam, who goes by @iambrattyb on TikTok, is combining the trend of making videos inspired by beauty practices of different eras with historical education.
Her series, which began on Jan. 31, introduces icons such as singers Gertrude “Ma” Rainey, Ella Fitzgerald, and Eartha Kitt with short descriptions of the impact the women had on the music industry.
“Lady Ella was a wildly popular American Jazz performer and song vocalist,” Ariam wrote in a clip about Ella Fitzgerald. “She turned to singing after a troubled childhood and debuted at the Apollo theater in 1934. Discovered in an amateur contest, she went on to become the top female Jazz artist for decades.”
According to an interview with Allure, Ariam had the idea last year for a series highlighting the work and history of artists she idolized in childhood.
“I grew up listening to a wide array of artists and I wanted to find a way to talk about these icons on my platforms,” Ariam told Allure. “I thought it would be important for others to know that Black History goes farther than the more well-known figures mentioned every year.”
Ariam told Allure that the coinciding the TikTok series with Black History Month aligned with her goal of educating people about the diversity of Black artists and influencers.
“My main goal is for readers to feel inclined to do their own research and learn more about these figures,” Ariam told Allure. “There’s only so much I can fit in a 60-second video, so I hope that people will take the next step by stepping out of their boundaries when learning about Black Historic figures. This series hopefully helps to get the ball rolling for others.”
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H/T Allure