Roots and Renaissance: The Ongoing Story of Black Innovation

Photo Credit: Chronicle Creative Studio

Black innovators continue to shape the cultural and creative landscape, from classrooms to boardrooms, blending legacy with progress in this feature image for “Roots and Renaissance: The Ongoing Story of Black Innovation.”

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Black brilliance has never gone dormant. It simply evolves with the times. What began as survival became strategy, and what was once dismissed as hustle has grown into an empire of innovation, creativity, and global influence.

In barbershops, classrooms, tech labs, and studios across Michigan, Black innovators are building new blueprints for the future. From the turntables of DJ Crazy Caz to the digital vision of Al Smith, founder of Purpix Media and AI Film Lab, the spirit of invention has never stopped flowing. It’s a renaissance rooted in resilience.

Smith, who teaches storytelling and film through One Day Film Skool, believes this moment isn’t about fearing technology but mastering it. “The question isn’t whether AI will replace us,” he says. “It’s whether we’ll rise with it.” His words echo a larger truth: our communities have always adapted to change, not as spectators but as architects.

Innovation doesn’t just live in Silicon Valley. It lives right here in Lansing, Jackson, Detroit, and Flint. It’s the entrepreneur turning a side hustle into a storefront. It’s the artist merging code and canvas. It’s the teacher using digital tools to amplify student voices. It’s every creator who understands that legacy isn’t locked in the past; it’s being written right now, line by line, post by post, dream by dream.

That same innovative spirit is what fuels The Chronicle’s newest generation of storytellers. Lansing native Nasaan Jackson, an HBCU student and correspondent for the Chronicle’s College Connect section, is helping lead the next chapter of the paper’s expansion. Through his work amplifying student voices and HBCU culture, Nasaan reminds us that innovation isn’t just about technology. It’s about connection, community, and continuing the stories that matter.

His initiative brings new energy to the Chronicle legacy, linking campuses and communities through storytelling, mentorship, and cultural pride. The goal is simple: to make sure young people see themselves in the pages of history as it’s being written.

As we honor Black history, we also honor our future, a renaissance built not just on technology but on imagination, integrity, and community.

“Roots and Renaissance” celebrates the ongoing rhythm of progress, proof that our power has never been in waiting for permission but in creating the impossible.