Conversations with Kenneth Williams Jr.

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kenneth Williams Jr..

Hi Kenneth, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
In 2019, I was working at a job that felt utterly demoralizing, and it moved me to take more creative risks. I worked in higher education as a communications manager, and my responsibilities centered on interviewing students on campus who were championing ideals related to student success. Upon successfully fulfilling my job responsibilities, for no reason other than the obvious, they were taken away from me and given to a new colleague whose complexion warranted protection. When it dawned on me that I wouldn’t be able to complete the job description as outlined, I decided to write about what I want, without the guardrails in my job that were put in place to impede my momentum. While scrolling Instagram, I saw actress Brely Evans post a video to her timeline during the press run for a recent project, in which she expressed her desire for more press interviews.

At the time, the only bylines I had were from an internship with The Detroit Free Press several years earlier. Other than that, I had no platform or clips that would even position me as an entertainment journalist, but I still took a risk. I reached out to Brely’s team and asked if she’d be open to an interview that I’d write up and post on LinkedIn since I didn’t have a media outlet attached to my name. She graciously agreed, and her beautiful story, along with our engaging conversation, transpired into my first celebrity interview. A blessing that I am still grateful to God and Miss Brely for.

While writing up the draft, I realized this should live beyond LinkedIn and deserves an actual home. I then remembered that I was part of this listserv designed for Black creatives to share resources with one another. After following up on the thread with more information about this exciting new celebrity interview I had, the incredible founder of the award-winning docuseries, Black Love, Codie Elaine Oliver, reached out to me to express interest in running the story, and as the old saying goes…the rest was history! It was my first celebrity interview with Brely Evans on Black Love’s website that helped propel me in my career.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has not, but I’m exceedingly grateful for the good, the bad, and the ugly. One obstacle that immediately comes to mind is the fractured state of the media industry. I was swept up in that treacherous windstorm in December when I was unexpectedly let go from my contributor position at Forbes, along with other writers on the platform. It’s a stark reminder that even when we, as Black creatives, put our blood, sweat, and tears into work that is not only meaningful to the culture but even to the media outlets that serve as our professional homes, corporate greed, unfortunately, reigns supreme. It’s tough seeing so many of my peers and myself navigate this odd landscape, but I know it’ll all work out. It has to. What I’m most grateful for is the community of Black journalists and media professionals that continues to get stronger despite the obvious war on creativity. I’m proud of us.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m an entertainment journalist, media consultant, and storyteller. Many people know me from my work in telling stories that center Black women and Black LGBTQ+ people, two communities who mean the world to me and my purpose. I specialize in high-profile interviews with some of the most prominent folks in the world, along with op-eds that dive into cultural commentary, including misogynoir, respectability politics, homophobia, and more. What I’m most proud of is my work ethic and my ability to pivot. I’ve been blessed with a multitude of opportunities that have moved me to grow into the man and professional I am today, and it’s a testament to my adaptability. I’ve worked a number of odd jobs and hustles in my life and I’ve learned that one constant, regardless of industry, is that of change. None of us can evade the ways in which life happens around u,s but we can change how we deal and adapt. I’m most proud of my adaptability; it’s saved my life.

Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
Most people don’t know that I have my own consultancy, which I launched 4 years ago. It’s like my own little baby where I work with organizations, creatives and brands to amplify their positionality in the digital realm. It’s not something that I discuss much but it’s been a beautifully nuanced time building it from the ground up. I never wanted to be a businessman or an entrepreneur of any kind, but the current state of our economy has made me reconsider. Additionally, it allows me to utilize my credentials, skills, and experience in Public Relations. Most people are also unaware that I have a master’s degree in Public Relations and wanted to become an entertainment publicist until journalism stole my heart.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.kennywilliamsjr.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kennyonce/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenneth-j-williams-jr-m-a-b8263266/