what we do

Black River Life is a creative studio and cultural organizing hub working to co-create irresistible media, storytelling and safe spaces that highlight the interconnectedness of the African Diaspora. Our mission is to unite the many streams of Blackness into one mighty flow: the Black River.

how we work

Black River Life leverages cultural arts and media to explore the shared experience of Blackness, with a special focus on how migration and displacement impacts all of our lives. As part of moving this work forward, we engage the community in a number of ways:

• help diverse Black-led nonprofits and small businesses use film, video and photography to tell their stories

• create cultural events and media that explore Black migration and displacement

• partner with fellow artists and community members on creative activations around these themes

• provide political education on racial equity and justice

our team

Brian Watson is a New Jersey-born actor, poet and filmmaker son of Jamaican immigrants. Collette Watson is a musician, strategist and creative director from the lowcountry of South Carolina. Together, we are Black River Life Collective, a creative studio and growing media platform.

our philosophy

Black River Life Collective is a love letter, a loudspeaker and an exploration of the many streams of Black life. We deliver news, information, documentary films, cultural events and community gatherings that highlight the African diaspora.

We are pro-Black, pro-Queer, pro-Trans, pro-Immigrant, pro-Worker, pro-Abolition, pro-Reparations and in solidarity with all oppressed peoples around the globe, particularly in the Global South. We believe that land must be restored to its Indigenous caretakers. In keeping with Black queer feminism, we believe that the pursuit of safe, just societies means centering those who are on the margins. When Black people get free, we all get free.