Embracing AI as a Tool for Black Empowerment: Willonius Hatcher’s Journey
When the pandemic hit, Willonius Hatcher, a 39-year-old aspiring filmmaker from Palm Beach, saw an opportunity to focus on his passion for screenwriting. As the world came to a standstill, Hatcher immersed himself in crafting epic worlds and joining writer programs, eventually creating a web series.
The Rise of Generative AI
As generative AI began to gain traction, Hatcher recognized its potential. He started using tools like Midjourney to create visuals for his scripts and Runway to animate them. The resulting trailers, or mini-films, quickly gained a devoted fan base eager for a fresh perspective on Black imagination.
Navigating the AI Debate
Hatcher’s embrace of AI comes at a time when the filmmaking world is divided on its creative use. Some argue that AI could perpetuate the devaluing of Black life through digital minstrelsy. However, Hatcher remains undeterred, emphasizing his commitment to telling decidedly Black stories that explore a cosmos of possibility.
AI is our reparations. I’m going to use these tools to make whatever it is I can make, which will allow me to accelerate my career and move to a certain space.
AI as a Tool for Empowerment
Hatcher views AI as a tool, much like Google, Photoshop, or Adobe After Effects. He believes that AI enhances what creators already bring to the table and can serve as a form of reparations for the Black community. By leveraging these tools, Hatcher has gained attention from executives and industry professionals who previously overlooked his work.
The Importance of AI Education
Hatcher stresses the importance of educating the Black community about AI, as it is a rapidly evolving technology that will shape the future. He encourages melanated people to learn how to use AI, as it can level the playing field and provide opportunities that were previously out of reach.
Education around AI is so important because we are not only headed that way, we are in the revolution right now. Whether we want to be aware of it or not, it’s happening.
Reimagining Black Storytelling
Through his AI-generated films, Hatcher aims to create new worlds that excite and inspire Black audiences. He believes that AI tools will allow Black creators to tell their own stories and partner with others to bring bigger narratives to life, much like the impact of Black Panther and Lovecraft Country.
Adapting to Survive
As a Black creator in America, Hatcher emphasizes the importance of adapting to survive. He encourages the Black community to learn as much as possible about AI to avoid being left behind in the next tech revolution. By building their own tools and leveraging existing ones, Black creators can ensure they have a seat at the table.
We have to learn as much as we can about AI so we can be on some sort of level playing field.
Willonius Hatcher’s journey showcases the potential of AI as a tool for Black empowerment in the filmmaking industry. By embracing these technologies and reimagining Black storytelling, creators like Hatcher are paving the way for a new era of diverse and compelling narratives.
5 Comments
Is AI finally paying its dues, or just another headline grabber? Let the debates begin!
Pine: Well, that’s one way to rewrite the script on reparations!
An AI filmmaker talking reparations? Now that’s a plot twist no one saw coming!
Reparations through a lens of code? That’s one for the history books.
Reparations via AI? Sounds like the future is now rewriting the past, interesting take, Leah Rodriguez.