This issue of NFTs Driving Change puts the spotlight on Zora\u2019s Black History Month campaign featuring nine Black Web3 artists.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n I believe Sunday mornings are for lazy breakfasts and great reads in bed. But if early signs of Spring have started showing in your part of the world, please take your read outside, and touch some grass! While I cannot promise you a great read, I guarantee some food for thought, something inspiring, or maybe even a pinch of hope. It\u2019s a bright sunny day over here in Norwich, and my heart is full in a way that only bright sunny mornings can do (live in England for five months and you\u2019ll start appreciating the sun more).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Welcome to <\/span>NFTs Driving Change<\/span><\/a><\/em>\u2014a bi-monthly column where I highlight projects and creators using NFTs and other Web3 tools to create real-world impact. In this issue, I\u2019ll be introducing you to NFT marketplace Zora\u2019s Black History Month campaign celebrating Black Web3 artists.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In the past two-something years, Web3 has come a long way. The sector is evolving with wonderful new projects, better visions, new players, and what not. Yet, representation continues to lack. Sure, today there are more individuals from underrepresented communities in Web3 than there were two years ago\u2014but it\u2019s nearly not enough.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In fact, a recent report by BCG X, Boston Consulting Group\u2019s tech build and design unit, and People of Crypto Lab highlighted Web3\u2019s gender diversity problem. According to the <\/span>report<\/span><\/a>, only 13% of <\/span>Web3 startups<\/span><\/a> include a female founder. Similarly, a <\/span>2022 report<\/span><\/a> found that 62% of crypto owners are White men. Another said that Black women make up <\/span>only 4% of crypto investors globally<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Nonetheless, the good news is that people are taking notice. More and more projects are actively encouraging diversity and inclusion in the space. The latest addition to this is the Black History Month campaign by the NFT marketplace, Zora.<\/span><\/p>\n On Friday, February 17, Zora launched its Black History Month campaign to uplift nine Black Web3 artists. Titled \u201cThe Let Out\u201d, the campaign is a celebration of artists and creators shaping the Black Web3 history and future. Created in collaboration with queer muti-disciplinary artist, Brittany Pierre, the campaign will feature nine timed open editions.<\/span><\/p>\n Under Pierre\u2019s curation, the Black History Month campaign will run until mid-March, with one NFT dropping each week. More importantly, Zora will give 1 ETH to each artist through its curation program. Apart from Pierre, the participating artists include Ilitch Peters Aaron Ricketts, Jamee Cornelia, Jah, Latasha, and Tuan.<\/span><\/p>\n One of the artworks currently live is Jamee Cornelia\u2019s BLQR. A motion mixed media collage, the piece is a \u201clove letter\u201d to the \u201cBlack Queer and Trans Community in Atlanta\u201d. Moreover, Cornelia will donate 50% of the proceeds to Southern Fried Queer Pride and the House of Alxndr.<\/p>\n To be sure, this campaign is much like <\/span>the Queer Museum of Digital Art<\/span><\/a> (QMoDA)\u2019s artist grant program that launched last month on Zora. It supported 10 queer artists with 1 ETH each. <\/span><\/p>\n Interestingly, the Black History Month campaign started with a tweet from Pierre:<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cYou know what would be really cool? If a huge project or platform had a really cool drop of African American artists that they commissioned in this space to do a few pieces and airdropped them to their holders for BHM. Commissioned as in paid 10-20 creatives 2-5 eth each.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n Nearly a month later, that vision has now become a reality. In fact, the above tweet in itself is available as an <\/span>NFT to mint<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n Commenting on the campaign, Dee Goens, founder and COO at Zora, added, <\/span>\u201c\u2026at Zora we\u2019ve always been focused on building the tools needed to bring diversity and creativity onchain.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n Hopefully, other Web3 projects and platforms will follow suit with such essential initiatives. That said, campaigns like this will be more impactful if it involves more women and LGBTQIA+ artists.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n If you loved this, make sure to check out our previous issues on Pussy Riot\u2019s Nadya Tolokonnikova<\/a> and Rejell\u2019s NFT drop<\/a>.<\/em><\/i><\/p>\n Get our free, 5 minutes daily newsletter. Join 25,000+ NFT enthusiasts & stay on top \ud83d\udc4a\ud83c\udf1a<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/nftevening.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/BHM-1-scaled.jpg.webp)
\n<\/picture>\n<\/noscript>Web3 is promising. But where\u2019s the representation?<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n
![\"Different](\"https:\/\/nftevening.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/The-Let-Out.jpeg.webp)
\n<\/picture>\n<\/noscript>About the Black History Month campaign by Zora<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n
How it all started<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
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