Amplifying and Celebrating Black Creators Through Content and Community

Ursula Burns made history in 2009 when she became CEO of Xerox and the first Black woman to lead a Fortune 500 company. Now, holding back tears, she reveals to Malcolm Gladwell and Kenya Barris the considerable obstacles she faced growing up, and how she was able to overcome them because of her mother’s “superhuman” dedication. “It is one of the most beautiful and inspiring conversations,” says Dee Turman, a director of programming at Audible, and it’s just the first of many unfiltered, revelatory dialogues with extraordinary people in the new Audible Original, The Unusual Suspects with Kenya Barris and Malcolm Gladwell. Barris, whose Khalabo Ink Society co-produced the title, explains, “Malcolm and I wanted to create a space where these icons could share the raw, unfiltered stories behind their success, the moments of doubt, resilience and triumph that often go unheard.”

Audible’s passion for sharing such powerful, unheard stories is at the core of Listen. Black. 365., our year-round campaign to support Black creators, both by nurturing up-and-coming talent and by spotlighting more established authors, performers and paradigm-shifters.

The latter includes the likes of Stevie Wonder, whose musical genius is celebrated in the Audible Original The Wonder of Stevie, the third release from Audible’s exclusive, first-look deal with Higher Ground, President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama’s production company. Co-produced with Questlove, the series is hosted by Pulitzer Prize-winning critic Wesley Morris, who takes listeners on an intimate journey with luminaries like the Obamas, Dionne Warwick, Smokey Robinson, and more, focusing on the brief period in which Stevie Wonder released five of the most influential albums ever recorded.

Michelle Obama joined us in celebrating the launch of The Wonder of Stevie at CultureCon 2024, a huge annual conference in Brooklyn where Black creative professionals and entrepreneurs connect. After her remarks, attendees were treated to guest DJ spots by Questlove and Janelle Monáe. “Authentically showing up in the spaces and cultural moments where diverse communities are” is as important to Audible as “creating and nurturing community through our content,” says Turman.

That’s why we hosted a panel at last summer’s Black Creative Economy Summit discussing how audio storytelling can provide a forum for emerging creatives of all types to share their voices. And at the 2024 Congressional Black Caucus Annual Legislative Conference in Washington, DC, Audible’s Global Head of Urban Innovation, Aisha Glover, spoke on a sold-out panel about the ways our Business Attraction Program helps to equitably grow Newark’s tech ecosystem, while also highlighting our impact initiatives around the world and our work amplifying underrepresented voices. Author and financial wellness expert Rachel Rodgers, with whom we’ve produced several Audible Originals, joined a panel about wealth creation and financial security, as well as the importance of inclusive storytelling.

“We know that stories are one of the most powerful agents of change and that they have the potential to help create a better future,” says Rachel Ghiazza, Audible’s Chief Content Officer. “We’re so proud to be able to work with incredible creators to bring the widest possible variety of stories to our listeners. And we’re excited to be a place that supports and grows audiences for Black creators.”

One way we do this is by connecting our expansive global audience to rising stars such as Aldis Hodge, who has been gaining a devoted following on Prime Video’s detective series, Cross, and who is starring in the Audible Original, Dragon Day, a fantasy releasing March 27. As Turman points out, “Audible is creating amazing opportunities for the new wave of Hollywood talent. We have a brilliant casting team that’s always a few steps ahead of the curve, which you can see represented across our slate of Originals.”

We’re also fostering and developing emerging creators with initiatives like the Audible Podcast Development Program, Audible Indigenous Writers’ Circle and the Emerging Playwrights Fund. That’s how Ethiopian-American playwright Banna Desta’s The Abyssinians came to life as an Audible Original, with an incredible cast including Danielle Deadwyler (Till, The Piano Lesson). “It’s stacked with absolutely legendary performers,” says Desta. And working with Audible was a positive experience for her as a writer, she adds. “My creative autonomy was really honored in this process, and that’s something I’m grateful for.”

Listeners can continue to find a robust slate of Audible Originals from Black creators across multiple genres, from wellness to sci-fi/fantasy to romance to memoir—including the unique, intimate musical-memoir hybrids in our Words + Music series. In the recently released The Last Showman, listeners go behind the scenes with Usher on the making of his 2004 record-breaking album, Confessions, and funk legend George Clinton’s Audible Original …And Your Ass Will Follow was honored as a nominee at the Grammy Awards earlier this month.

“It’s exciting what Audible will represent in the future, in terms of opportunities for Black talent,” says Turman, “and for audiences wanting to hear more stories that represent and inspire them.”

Find audiobooks, podcasts and Audible Originals from Black creators throughout the year at our Listen. Black. 365. page.