Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ernest Crim III. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Ernest thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

As early as I can remember, I have been an artist and creative. As a child, I was passionate about drawing, up until my teen years and even beyond that, I once created a movie with my friends in the 90s, and I loved music so much that I spent some time writing poems and raps as a form of expression in college. Rap allowed me to express my discontentment with racism. Additionally, I was able to teach what I learned about Black History in class and use my notepad as a form of therapy when I was stressed about life. However, I would not explore content creation until I was faced with a hate crime that went viral in 2016. I was forced to do it, essentially, because after posting the hate crime video, in an effort to get the assailant’s name to press charges, my Facebook account was temporarily suspended for using a nickname (seriously), which was something I did because I was a high school teacher at the time. Since I temporarily didn’t have a Facebook page, my wife and I created a public figure page on Facebook, to keep our supporters updated. Soon after, I began recording vlogs to express my frustration.

In March of 2021, I narrowed down my niche to create Black History content that educates, empowers and helps communities strategize the creation of equitable spaces. Through the creation of my TikToks and IG Reels, I’ve been able to make a sizeable income while reaching millions of people teaching the type of Black History that I want, without curriculum restrictions. The world is now my classroom, and my phone is my chalkboard.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers?

I’m a south side of Chicago native and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign alumnus, delivers his message through a variety of mediums, as an international speaker, (who is certified by Eric Thomas & Associates), an award-winning educator, a content creator with a combined a reach of over 430K, and author of the bestseller, ‘Black History Saved My Life.’

I have been featured on NBC, NPR, PBS, CBS, A&E, BuzzFeed, the Black News Channel, Parents.com, Newsweek, Red Table Talk’s official podcast recap show, and various other publications.

I am the founder and CEO of Crim’s Cultural Consulting LLC, and a Black History Advocate who uses history as a tool, speaking from his personal experience with a hate crime, to empower, educate, create equitable systems and build cultural bridges.

I was inspired to start my company and create Black History content after dealing with a hate crime that went viral in 2016. I was at my lowest point and felt the need to help as many children (and parents) navigate the hurdles of systemic racism by helping them using Black History to empower and educate their children, while also using it as a form of advocacy in their immediate communities.

I’m most proud of my ability to reach people through social media, and public speaking, after previously being to shy to speak in front of large crowds or record myself speaking into my phone. To be able to make a living, and difference in the lives of so many people, because I was willing to see what was on the other side of fear, is inspiring to me anda testament to what we can accomplish when we truly live out our passions and purpose.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist, or creative, is having the freedom to explore the things you love the most, the things that inspire, or even perturb you, and seeing the common resonance which exists among your supporters after you share it with them. Being able to take that thing that was once a figment of your imagination and piecing it together as a puzzle to present and help others through a similar struggle, or joy, is fulfilling. Additionally, as an educator who taught for 12 years in high school and spoke about the merits of those various Black historical figures who fought for freedom, I have to say that truly having freedom myself is very rewarding. To feel as though you are truly modeling that which you teach about, and living your purpose without restraints, is a dream come true.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

For those out there you want to build a strong audience on social media, I would ask you: What experience do you have that is unique to you that you love talking about nonstop as a means to help people? What have you gone through that you can teach someone? What pain have you fought through that you can now help others with? Reflect on that and narrow down that experience as much as possible and create that type of content and don’t veer away from it. Make sure your niche is specific, and even if others sort of have it as well, realize that there’s no one else out there that can do it like you!

Contact Info:

• Website: ernestcrim.com and LinkTree.com/mrcrim3
• Instagram: @MrCrim3
• Facebook: @MrCrimIII
• Linkedin: Ernest Crim III
• Twitter: @MrCrim3
• Youtube: @MrCrim3
• Other: My TIkTok is @MrCrim3

Image Credits
Photographs are provided by Ernest Crim III and taken by Wayne McNair