Jordan Brand amplifies Black storytelling with StoryCorps’ “Brightness in Black.”

Michael Jordan’s Jordan Brand is increasing its commitment to the Black community with its latest partnership with StoryCorps. Combining Jordan’s financial resources and StoryCorps’ intended storytelling format, the project “Brightness in black“the collaboration is a three-year initiative that goals to gather and share diverse stories related to the Black experience while difficult common stereotypical, pervasive narratives.

“Jordan Brand’s commitment to the Black community is endless – it is central to who we are as a brand,” said Sarah Mensah, president of Jordan Brand, in a press release. “We are incredibly proud to be a part of the work StoryCorps is doing with Brightness in Black, ensuring that the voices and stories of the Black community remain a part of our collective history.

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By giving the microphone back to Black communities, Brightness in Black encourages Black people across the country to query and reclaim the usually one-dimensional and oversimplified narratives which might be often told by sharing personal stories of triumph, challenge, resilience, and gratitude.

Understanding that the Black experience isn’t monolithic and varies by region, StoryCorps and Jordan Brand are committed to traveling to diverse locations across the country to capture these stories. Working concurrently in two “Anchor Communities,” Brightness in Black will partner with local media and community organizations to document and disseminate the stories of those Black communities and host events in hopes of constructing the capability of those cities to sustain the long-term work of fixing the narrative. This 12 months, Brightness in Black will give attention to Atlanta and Philadelphia, with the remaining 4 major cities to be announced.

“Building relationships takes time,” Clark added. “You know, we actually desired to take the time to know the communities that we were working in, really construct relationships in the fitting way, and likewise step up the work that our community partners are doing. We didn’t wish to jump in and out.

To help with this work, StoryCorps and Jordan Brand have launched a six-month paid scholarship program for juniors and seniors attending HBCUs or community colleges in participating Anchor Community regions. Each 12 months, the organization will select six fellows who will play a key role in implementing the Brightness in Black mission by serving as interview coordinators and participating in community learning workshops. When planning to host pop-ups outside of this 12 months’s Anchor Communities, Clark emphasized that there are alternative ways to participate in Brightness in Black. In addition to partnering with Black media for national syndication, Brightness in Black invites people to record and share their stories at home via StoryCorps App.

“You know, it’s about atypical people sharing their stories. Often individuals who should not there are invisible, right, unheard and infrequently asked. And I feel that is what stands out essentially the most,” Clark concluded. “These are stories that break stereotypes. These are stories in which nobody is attempting to be famous. When we take into consideration every thing that happens on our phones, it looks like we’re capturing stories (via) photos (and videos) all day long and so they all add as much as something. But there’s something completely different if you intentionally sit with another person and share something so atypical yet extraordinary.