Amid a global pandemic that’s disproportionally hurting Black-owned small businesses, it’s more important than ever to open your purse for Black entrepreneurs, artists, and creatives. And with a second wave of that same pandemic looking more and more likely for the U.S., enrolling in an interesting online class or workshop taught by a Black instructor stands to be one of the best ways to help Black entrepreneurs weather the storm: You’ll be using your purchasing power to invest in and elevate Black teachers, and learning new skills from them, too. It’s a total win-win.
Below, we’ve rounded up a very small sample of some of the coolest Skillshare and MasterClass courses led by Black teachers, many of whom are doing the hard work of carving out spaces for their communities in predominantly white industries. Here’s how you can enroll:
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Skillshare: Sign up for a Skillshare Premium subscription to get unlimited access to thousands of online classes (plus additional perks like offline viewing). New students can get their first two months for free; after that, you’ll pay $19/month or $99/year.
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MasterClass: A MasterClass All-Access Pass gets you access to dozens of exclusive expert-led video courses for $15 a month (billed $180/year), each of which includes a class workbook, interactive assignments, and community activities.
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Skill level: All
Length: 1 hour, 9 minutes
Geared toward anyone who’s struggling to find time for self-care, this journaling class led by writer, speaker, Air Force veteran, and mental health advocate Yasmine Cheyenne guides students through six quick meditative writing prompts that encourage mindfulness, self-reflection, and refocusing. Click here to sign up.
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Skill level: All
Length: 2 hours, 7 minutes
Learn how not to kill those precious tomato and basil plants sitting out on your porch, deck, backyard, or fire escape with tips from Los Angeles-based community activist and “Gangster Gardener” Ron Finley (of viral “guerilla gardening” TED Talk fame), who covers urban gardening basics across this two-hour class. Click here to sign up.
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Skill level: Beginner
Length: 24 minutes
You’ll be able to shoot some sick cityscapes on your next quarantine walk using the techniques you learn from Jamal Burger, a Canada-based photographer who’s worked for the likes of Nike, Jordan, and Apple. (Pro tip: Take his Lightroom editing course afterward to learn how to polish your images.) Click here to sign up.
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Skill level: Beginner
Length: 1 hour, 10 minutes
Whether you’re interested in going freelance or just need some budgeting advice, Goldman Sachs sales trader-turned-photographer and podcast host Justin Bridges will help you create a personalized finance plan over the course of this five-step class. Click here to sign up.
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Skill level: All
Length: 5 hours, 36 minutes
Spanning more than two dozen video lessons, this MasterClass led by two-time Grammy winner and Rage Against the Machine co-founder Tom Morello imparts insights into his distinctive creative voice (and tips on how to develop your own) alongside beginner theory and songwriting fundamentals. Click here to sign up.
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Skill level: Intermediate
Length: 1 hour, 44 minutes
Stuck in a creative rut? Multidisciplinary artist Laci Jordan’s digital portraiture class will teach you how to source inspiration and translate it into a singular style in between essential Adobe Illustrator tips and tricks. Click here to sign up.
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Skill level: Intermediate
Length: 41 minutes
Author and award-winning Brooklyn Brewery brewmaster Garrett Oliver unveils his world-renowned creative process for developing new recipes in this eight-part class that’ll fascinate experienced homebrewers and casual beer-drinkers alike. Click here to sign up.