Daily Inspiration: Meet Nakia Smith

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nakia Smith.

Nakia , we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’m Nakia Smith. I’m a Black Deaf woman from Texas who grew up in a strong signing family. I started sharing my life and my culture online during COVID. I had no idea people would connect with it the way they did. I was just showing our world and being myself.

As my platform grew, I began focusing more on representation, Black ASL, and accessibility. That opened doors for me to work with brands, join film projects, and do civil rights work. My whole journey has really been about community and staying true to who I am.

I’m still creating and still working to make sure Black Deaf stories are seen and respected. My path wasn’t perfect or planned, but it came from honesty and love for my community.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. I’ve had to deal with a lot of things at the same time. Being a Black Deaf woman in this world already comes with challenges. People assume things about me before I even walk in the room. I’ve had moments where access wasn’t provided, interpreters weren’t available, or people didn’t take my language seriously.

I also had to learn everything on my own. Creating content, advocating for my community, building my career, working with big companies. I had to push extra hard just to make sure my voice was heard and respected.

But every struggle taught me something. It made me stronger, more confident, and more sure of my purpose. All of it shaped me into who I am today.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m a creator, advocate, and storyteller. Most people know me from my videos about Black ASL and Deaf culture. I focus on showing our community in a real way and making sure people understand the history behind our language. A lot of my work now also connects to civil rights and making sure Deaf people, especially Black Deaf people, get the access and respect we deserve.

I’m proud of the impact my work has had. I’ve been able to partner with major brands, work in film and media, and use my platform to educate people who never knew anything about Black ASL before. I’m proud that my content has opened doors for other Black Deaf folks and helped shift the conversation toward representation.

What sets me apart is my lived experience. I grew up in a signing family and I’m deeply connected to Black Deaf culture. I don’t teach or post from a textbook. I speak from my life, my community, and my truth. I think people can feel that honesty, and that’s what keeps my work meaningful.

Any big plans?
For the future, I’m focused on stepping deeper into acting. I’ve already worked on a few projects, and now I’m ready to grow in TV and film in a real way. I want to bring more Black Deaf stories to the screen and show characters that actually reflect our community. Acting is something I’m passionate about, and I’m excited to keep pushing myself and getting better.

I’m also looking forward to more creative projects, working with bigger platforms, and building a strong career that blends storytelling, advocacy, and performance. This next chapter for me is all about growth, new opportunities, and showing what Black Deaf talent looks like when we finally get the space.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itscharmay?igsh=ZnBxM3JmYzB1aXpv&utm_source=qr

Image Credits
Photos is by me