by Kaylon Coleman

Music bumping, sun shining, fits popping, and melanin thriving. This was the scene for CultureCon 2025.

This past weekend, select Black Humboldt members had the opportunity to travel to Brooklyn, New York to attend CultureCon, an annual event celebrating Black creatives.

CultureCon was created by Imani Ellis as an opportunity for Black creatives to come together to celebrate culture, showcase fashion, network with others, attend panels and discussions, and leave feeling inspired to do the damn thing. Festivities included things such as activations for pop-ups to showcase their brands, a gaggle of food trucks, a creators lounge to mingle and network, an arts and crafts decompression zone and more. But the main attraction by far had to be the discussion panels with top tier celebrities including Taraji P. Henson, Cam Newton and Love Island 2024 winners Serena and Kordell, to name a few. 

Because they had so many different people coming up, the celebrity speakers had about 20 minutes before they were ushered offstage, so it was important to make that time count.

One of the panels included musicians Ferg, Joey Bada$$, Vic Mensa and Algee Smith. Mensa explained how he, as a creative, approachs success and failure. 

“I do think that success is a state of mind, it’s a state of being more so than a destination,” Mensa said. “Because it never feels the way you anticipated it would when you reach this certain plateau. The only lasting success I can say I’ve ever found was not through necessarily attainment of a goal, but believing in success as my being.” 

This idea of self-worth and self appreciation was reflected in the majority of responses from panelists, as well as faith, not just in God but in oneself and one’s abilities. During 2 Chainz’s segment, he discussed his book The Voice in My Head is God. He talked about the importance of quieting down the outside noises that don’t serve you, coining it the, “fuck it,” voice, and stating that for him at least, it’s important to center the voice that prioritizes love.

The theme of CultureCon this year was “Take Space: The New Frontier,” a call to action for Black creatives to claim their space and assert their presence. When asked how she embodies taking up space in her work, Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony (EGOT) winner Jennifer Hudson said that you must do just that. 

“Exactly what it says — taking space and knowing that no matter what room you walk into, you deserve to be there,” Hudson said. “And if they don’t know who you are when you get there, by the time you leave, oh they gon’ know who you are… but the one thing I keep with me, if God placed me here, then I have no choice but to be prepared, trust that and own the space.” 

The panel ended with Hudson being awarded the Creative Icon Award for her creativity, excellence and authenticity. She mentioned that she’d place the memento right next to the EGOT because she appreciates all things she has received from her hard work. 

It’s definitely safe to say CultureCon 2025 showed up for the culture, with creatives who attended hopefully leaving with some newfound inspiration to keep on taking up space and to do the damn thing!

Kaylon Coleman is a senior journalism major with a concentration in news and a minor in communications. He is the opinion editor for LJ. He is also the vice president of the Black Student Union at CPH, Marketing and Communications lead for the Umoja Center and a part-time radio DJ and merch manager for KRFH. If you have a movie you want him to review, email him at kc403@humboldt.edu