Creative Spotlight: Queer Black Influencers Who Are Breaking Down Barriers on Social Media

Black History Month is every month — and there are plenty of Black queer influencers who are proving that on social media. Whether it comes to music, fashion, or social activism, black creatives are doing the damn thing all over the world wide web.

Each of the queer Black men below have a massive following and have managed to stay relevant over the years using their talent, charisma, and social media platforms. And they're making money moves offline, too.

Denzel entertains 1.39 million subscribers on his YouTube channel, where he posts a host of original content.

Originally made famous on Vine, the Bronx native kept creating on Instagram, then TikTok, and even had an exclusive show on Snapchat.

He's the host of the We Said What We Said, which also features his friend and fellow influencer, Ricky Thompson.

He sees fashion as a means of self-expression and an avenue of empowerment and in 2023, he debuted a ready-to-wear collection with NoiD named “COLLISION”. He told Paper Mag the advice he would give to others: “Stay true to yourself, keep on going, and keep on pushing by doing you.”

Follow Denzel at @denzeldion on Instagram and @denzeldion on TikTok.

Rickey has come a long way from being a lonely high schooler who was bullied and that is all thanks to his humorous personality — along with social media. After finding popularity on Vine, he went from nameless to so famous that Kylie Jenner was reposting his content.

Originally from Raleigh, N.C., Rickey decided to move to Los Angeles to pursue his dreams. He has since garnered more than 7 million followers on Instagram.

He told Forbes Magazine: "I went from being rejected to having my face on magazines, all over the world, I’ll never forget that feeling and it was the ultimate evidence for me that you can do whatever you want as long as you don’t give up."

Follow Rickey at @rickeythompson on Instagram and @rickeythompson on TikTok.

Florida native Saucy Santana is an openly gay rapper who set the internet on fire. He is as equally recognized for his online gimmicks as he is for being a rap sensation. His flamboyant style, catchy music, and humorous personality make him a force to be reckoned with.

He told Time Magazine: “I’m proud to be iconic to people or to be making history to people or people seeing me as a future icon or future legend,” he says. “Because I’m opening a door for my community.”

He has come a long way from being The City Girls makeup artist and has landed Teen Vogue and Paper magazine cover issues. His online presence is steadily growing with 1.3 million followers on Instagram and 3.7 million followers on TikTok.

Follow Saucy Santana at @saucysantana on Instagram and @saucysantana on TikTok.