The Black Joy Creators Fellowship is a project of the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation. ¹ It is a fellowship for Black artists and influencers who live in the Creator’s House, a house purchased by the Foundation. ²

The Black Joy Creators Fellowship was announced by the BLM Global Network Foundation in April 2022 amid controversy over the purchase and use of Creator’s House. ³

Creator House Purchase

In October 2020, BLM Global Network Foundation purchased a 6,500 square foot mansion in Los Angeles now known as Creator’s House. The property, as reported by Sean Campbell of New York magazine’s Intelligencer, had more than 6 bedrooms and bathrooms, a sound stage, a pool, and a bungalow. The group paid nearly $6 million in cash. ⁴

Campbell’s reporting revealed that BLM Global Network Foundation co-founder Patrisse Cullors and members of her family benefited from the property. ⁵

Announcement of Fellowship

In April 2022, Campbell reported on internal memos and reports demonstrating BLM Global Network Foundation’s reactions to his inquires. The communications indicated that the organization was unclear how to explain the purpose of Creator’s House, known internally as “the campus,” to the public. ⁶ The memos suggested that it be used as a “influencer house” and “safehouse” for the group’s leadership when they felt threatened. ^{7 8}

Campbell noted the contradiction in using the house in public media content while also claiming that it was a safe house, and stated that the two stated uses “are somewhat in tension.” The group also did not explain why little to no content had been developed at the property over the 17 months following its purchase. ⁹

On April 1, 2022, BLM Global Network Foundation announced the creation of the Black Joy Creators Fellowship to be based at Creator’s House. ^{10 11} In a May 2022 blog post entitled “We Want to Talk to You About the Creator’s House in California,” the group asserted that the “double standard and embedded racism” in the criticism of Creator’s House “is clear.” ¹²

The group claimed that art and culture have the power to “dismantle white supremacy” and “bring us closer to achieving full liberation” in the U.S. and across the world. Fellows would live in the Creators House and have access to its studio and production space and be able to collaborate with other fellows. The announcement also stated that fellows would have access to mentorship and social media promotion. It also stated that the program would not emulate “white supremacist models.” ¹³

1. “Exclusive: Black Lives Matter Global Network Announces Fellowship And Creator House Centering Joy.” NewsOne, April 2, 2022. Accessed July 16, 2022. https://newsone.com/4313089/black-lives-matter-global-network-announces-fellowship-centering-joy/.
2. Baron, Julian. “Black Lives Matter Continue to Fracture after Founder’s Home Buying Spree.” WBMA. April 16, 2021. https://abc3340.com/news/nation-world/black-lives-matter-continue-to-fracture-after-founders-home-buying-spree.
3. “Exclusive: Black Lives Matter Global Network Announces Fellowship And Creator House Centering Joy.” NewsOne. April 2, 2022. Accessed July 16, 2022. https://newsone.com/4313089/black-lives-matter-global-network-announces-fellowship-centering-joy/.
4. Campbell, Sean. “Black Lives Matter Secretly Bought a $6 Million House.” Intelligencer. April 4, 2022. Accessed July 16, 2022. https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2022/04/black-lives-matter-6-million-dollar-house.html.
5. Campbell, Sean. “Black Lives Matter Secretly Bought a $6 Million House.” Intelligencer. April 4, 2022. Accessed July 16, 2022. https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2022/04/black-lives-matter-6-million-dollar-house.html.
6. Campbell, Sean. “Black Lives Matter Secretly Bought a $6 Million House.” Intelligencer. April 4, 2022. Accessed July 16, 2022. https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2022/04/black-lives-matter-6-million-dollar-house.html.
7. Campbell, Sean. “Black Lives Matter Secretly Bought a $6 Million House.” Intelligencer. April 4, 2022. Accessed July 16, 2022. https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2022/04/black-lives-matter-6-million-dollar-house.html.
8. “Exclusive: Black Lives Matter Global Network Announces Fellowship And Creator House Centering Joy.” NewsOne, April 2, 2022. Accessed July 16, 2022. https://newsone.com/4313089/black-lives-matter-global-network-announces-fellowship-centering-joy/.
9. Campbell, Sean. “Black Lives Matter Secretly Bought a $6 Million House.” Intelligencer. April 4, 2022. Accessed July 16, 2022. https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2022/04/black-lives-matter-6-million-dollar-house.html.
10. Campbell, Sean. “Black Lives Matter Secretly Bought a $6 Million House.” Intelligencer. April 4, 2022. Accessed July 16, 2022. https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2022/04/black-lives-matter-6-million-dollar-house.html.
11. “Exclusive: Black Lives Matter Global Network Announces Fellowship And Creator House Centering Joy.” NewsOne. April 2, 2022. Accessed July 16, 2022. https://newsone.com/4313089/black-lives-matter-global-network-announces-fellowship-centering-joy/.
12. “We Want to Talk to You About the Creator’s House in California.” Black Lives Matter, May 13, 2022. Accessed July 18, 2022. https://blacklivesmatter.com/we-want-to-talk-to-you-about-the-creators-house-in-california/.
13. Exclusive: Black Lives Matter Global Network Announces Fellowship And Creator House Centering Joy.” NewsOne. April 2, 2022. Accessed July 16, 2022. https://newsone.com/4313089/black-lives-matter-global-network-announces-fellowship-centering-joy/.